In what many feel is a surprise move, the Los Angeles Dodges traded three young pitchers to the Oakland A’s. Now set to don Dodger Blue are outfielder Josh Reddick and pitcher Rich Hill.
In exchange for the two players, the Dodges sent a triad of young, minor league pitchers to Oakland: Frankie Montas, Jharel Cotton and Grant Holmes.
On Monday the Dodges figured in at 59-46, leading the NL wild-card standings and now at only two games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
“Reddick is hitting .296 in 68 games for the A’s this year and should provide an offensive boost to a lineup that is 23rd in the majors in team batting average,” FoxSports reported on news of the trade. “Hill is 9-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 14 starts for Oakland this year, adding another quality arm to a pitching staff that is fourth-best in the league in ERA.”
Hill, a 36-year-old southpaw, boasts 90 strikeouts in 76 innings but hadn’t made a start since 2009 until the Boston Red Sox started him in September. He did well in those outings and in starts for Oakland but has been plagued by blisters recently. He’ll become a free agent after this season.
For his part, Reddick’s hit 11 doubles and eight home runs this season. He also recorded a 32-homer season in his career and plays as an exceptional right fielder. Riddick also hits free agency at the end of this season.
According to Fox Sports’s Ken Rosenthal, the trades may also lead to outfielder Yasiel Puig heading for the exits.
The #Dodgers have maintained they will trade Puig only if they get another outfielder. Reddick is that outfielder.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016
But at the trade deadline, the Cuban outfielder remained a Dodger. His departure from Chavez Ravine, should it come this season, will occur via a waiver-wire exchange.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.
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