The Los Angeles Dodgers added Kevin Kiermaier to their active roster and optioned Hunter Feduccia to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Kiermaier was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Ryan Yarbrough as one of the Dodgers’ two trades on deadline day. Kiermaier did not join the club immediately due to being in Canada and having some “things to tie up,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
He becomes the fourth player the Dodgers have added to their roster since the trade deadline, along with Amed Rosario and pitchers Michael Kopech and Jack Flaherty. Tommy Edman remains on the 60-day injured list.
Kiermaier hit .195/.236/.310 with four home runs, 24 runs scored, 18 RBI and a 53 wRC+ over 81 games for the Blue Jays this season, not providing much offensive value. But what he lacks with his bat, he makes up for it as a lockdown center fielder with his glove.
He is one of the best defensive outfielders in MLB history, and he has a good case as the top defender in MLB since he made his debut in 2013. This year, he ranks in the 97th percentile of outs above average and 96th percentile of arm strength.
“Excited to have him, talked to him earlier, he’s really fired up,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said after the trade. “We know what he brings to the team on the field. It’s going to be double-plus defense and his speed.
“And then it’s just the exceptional person and teammate on top of that. So we’re fired up to have him.”
The Dodgers have not yet decided on Kiermaier’s role as a starter, platoon player, defensive substitution or backup.
“We’ll see. I want to kind of look at this since it just happened,” Roberts said. “Obviously, I know K.K. is a lockdown defender, but I don’t know that answer right now. I still have to digest it.
“I want to talk to coaches and front office, and see what their vision is. Make sure we’re on the same page.”
Center field defense has been a problem for the Dodgers, but Kiermaier completely changes that outlook when he’s in the lineup.
Dodgers option Hunter Feduccia
Feduccia was optioned back to Triple-A after previously being recalled when Freddie Freeman was placed on the family emergency list as one of his three sons, Maximus, has been dealing with an illness since All-Star Week festivities in Dallas.
It’s unclear how long Freeman will be away from the team, but the Dodgers will need to make another roster move when he returns.
Feduccia ended up getting one at-bat, pinch-hitting for the final out of the series finale against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Feduccia has been in Triple-A since the 2022 season. During that span he’s hit a combined .276/.384/.456 with 46 doubles, 23 home runs and 124 RBI over 194 games.
In 2024, Feduccia is batting .295/.420/.451 with 14 doubles, five home runs and 42 RBI.
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