For several weeks last offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers seemed poised to trade for Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins. He was coming off a career season and filled multiple needs for the Dodgers as a right-handed bat that played second base.
But trade talks with the Twins eventually stalled, and the Dodgers quickly pivoted to trade for Logan Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays. He wasn’t coming off as impressive of a season as Dozier, but Forsythe represented a steady acquisition.
Moreover, a trade for a second baseman ultimately did not cost the Dodgers a significant haul of prospects, as only Jose De Leon was sent to the Rays.
Forsythe’s tenure with the Dodgers hardly got off on the right foot, both figuratively and literally. He appeared in just 14 games (13 starts) before being hit by a pitch and suffering a toe fracture.
Forsythe was projected to miss approximately two weeks, but saw his timetable reset due to hamstring tightness that surfaced while on a rehab assignment with High-A Rancho Cucamonga. He instead was sidelined for nearly five weeks.
Forsythe endured a dreadful six weeks in May and June, saw improvement in July but regressed in each of the final two months of the regular season. He finished the year batting .224/.351/.327 with 19 doubles, six home runs and 36 RBI in 119 games.
The games played, doubles, home runs and OPS+ (82) were Forsythe’s fewest since 2014, his first season with the Rays. The 30-year-old said in late September he was taking a more aggressive approach at the plate and felt in a better place with his mechanics and swing, and being further removed from injury.
That was immediately validated in the postseason, as he went 4-for-10 with one RBI and one walk in three National League Division Series games, making two starts. Forsythe cooled some while appearing in four NL Championship Series games, then rebounded in the World Series.
Overall, he hit .297/.435/.351 with two doubles, six RBI and nine walks in 14 postseason games (11 starts). The playoff experience was the first of Forsythe’s career, which he relished.
2017 highlight
On a day the Dodgers lost Clayton Kershaw to a second back injury in as many years, and saw Kenley Jansen surrender a three-run home run in the ninth inning that tied the game, Forsythe was there to pick up the team.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Forsythe hit a chopper through the middle of the infield for a game-winning hit to earn a series split with the Atlanta Braves. Forsythe’s walk-off hit on July 24 was his second of the season.
2018 outlook
As expected, the Dodgers exercised their $8.5 million club option on Forsythe for next season. He again projects to serve as the team’s everyday second baseman.
