The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Will Venable to a one-year contract on Tuesday, and optioned Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Venable will wear No. 25 and his addition means the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is now full.
He struggled with the Cleveland Indians during Spring Training and was released in late March. Venable then joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a Minor-League contract and hit .205/.304/.307 with seven doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs over 41 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Venable opted out of his deal to become a free agent on June 10. He spent the 2015 season with the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers, hitting a combined .244/.320/.350 with 13 doubles and 33 RBIs over 135 games.
The 33 year old is a career .251/.317/.406 batter with 81 home runs and 307 RBIs over parts of eight seasons with the Padres and Rangers. Venable can play all three outfield positions and gives the Dodgers a left-handed bat off the bench.
Barnes joined the club from Oklahoma City on June 5 when Carl Crawford was designated for assignment. He appeared as a pinch-hitter in three games and started one game, going 0-for-4 with one walk during that span.
The versatile Barnes is hitting .306/.413/.375 with eight doubles, 11 RBIs and 12 stolen bases through 37 games with Oklahoma City this season.
