Dodgers get slugger Valentón from Yankees
SAN FRANCISCO -- Looking for a left-handed bat, the Dodgers obtained Yankees outfielder Joey Valentón in exchange for right-hander Clayton Beeter, the No. 15 prospect in the business every MLB Pipe, the club declared in front of Tuesday's Trade Deadline.
“A year back, having been worth a great deal in the market, [he] was traded for a great deal, ” said Dodgers president of football functions Andrew Friedman. “The true skill level remains. All of us feel like getting him here, getting him with our men, there’s a real persuasive benefit story. ”
OPERATE INFORMATION
Dodgers get: IN Joey Gallo
Yankees get: RHP Clayton Beeter (Dodgers' Simply no. 15 prospect)
The Dodgers came into the day hoping to accomplish a blockbuster trade for Juan Soto. With Soto joining the rival Padres, president of baseball businesses Toby Friedman had to begin another focus on.
Gallo, a two-time All-Star, has already established a headache season with the Yankees, publishing a. 159 average with 12 homers. The 28-year-old is known for his power, but this individual hasn’t been able to tap into that this season. His average leave velocity is 88. 4 with this year, the cheapest because the 2016 season when he was restricted to just seventeen online games.
The outfielder is also known for his high swing-and-miss rate as he contributed the Majors in strikeouts previous season. That has become an even bigger concern this season as Gallo has punched out 106 times in 233 at-bats. His 37. 8% strikeout rate this year ranks in the bottom one per cent in the league. In the limited time with the Yankees, Gallo hit out 194 times over 140 online games.
Despite Gallo's severe challenges over the past year, the Dodgers are hoping that a change of scenery will help the slugger get back to his old form. Before becoming a member of the Yankees previous July, Valentón was an All-Star together 25 homers with an. 869 OPERATIONS with the Rangers. He was also an All-Star in 2019, posting a career-high. 986 OPS.
“I think, certainly, [he has] elite, off-the-charts power, ” Friedman said. “Really good decision-making in the, really good defender in the outfield who have some swing-and-miss in the game, for certain. I believe just progressing to a different setting, our striking men are as good as it gets.... And throughout the year we’ve just recently been a little bit short in the outfield. To add a great protective outfielder will also help. ”
The way the Dodgers find constant playing time for Valentón will be interesting. With Chris Taylor still on the hurt list, Gallo will divided time with Trayce Thompson in remaining field. Gallo, who is striking. 102 against lefties, will not play against southpaws. This individual will, however, have 11 of his 12 homers off right-handers.
Once Taylor returns, Gallo’s role can take popular. The Dodgers may also have Taylor or Thompson play more center field, relegating a battling Cody Bellinger into a platoon role. Wayne Outman, that is off to a historic commence to his profession, could be the odd-man out once Taylor swift returns.
Until then, however, the Dodgers cleared up their position-player logjam by mailing outfielder Jake Lamb to the Mariners for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Lamb posted a. 770 OPS and hit two homers in twenty-five games with the Dodgers this year. Considering that Gallo is a totally free guide at the end of the season, the Dodgers see the move as low-risk, high-reward.
“He’s heading to play and I got to find a way to kind of divvy up playing time for every them, ” said Dodgers manager Sawzag Roberts. “My ask to him was just to kind of accept this new opportunity, fresh start. ”
Beeter, 23, has a 5. seventy five ERA in 18 appearances (16 starts) with Double-A Tulsa this season.