As if the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers needed even more talent, they acquired veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson — and cash considerations — late Friday night in a move that is designed to bolster the team’s roster for the postseason.
The deal came at a relatively low cost for the Dodgers, as they will send the New York Mets cash or a player to be named later. Granderson, 36, is a career .254/.340/.474 hitter and is a free agent at season’s end.
He entered Saturday’s game batting .228/.334/.481 on the year, which may concern some fans who still value batting average. However, the low average is due in large part to a horrific performance in April.
Like, Andruw Jones horrible. Granderson hit .128/.174/.221 for a feeble wRC+ of 2. Remember, 100 is considered league-average.
Since April, Granderson has been one of the best hitters in baseball. His 147 wRC+ during that time is better than the likes of Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, among others. Granderson hits right-handed pitching to the tune of a career 128 wRC+ and 123 clip this season.
While he played center field early in his career, the 36-year-old is relegated to a corner spot now, and has performed very well in right field this season.
So, the Dodgers got themselves a good player, but did they really need another outfielder? The short answer is no.
With Adrian Gonzalez returning, Bellinger will spend more time in the outfield for the rest of the season. Of course, Bellinger is now considered day-to-day after suffering a mild right ankle sprain on Saturday.
The trade also impacts Chris Taylor’s role, as he’s spent most of his time this year in left field. Furthermore, the Dodgers optioned Joc Pederson to Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to create room for Granderson on the active roster.
The hope is Pederson will use the time to get his swing sorted out. And the trade makes a little more sense now. It’s disappointing that Pederson, who hit incredibly well in June and was very good in July, is struggling offensively once again.
He’s already made alterations to his swing, which is commonplace for him, but has yet to find consistency at the plate. Adding Granderson to the picture complicates Pederson’s role once he returns in September. It also further cements the notion that Gonzalez will be a part-time player.
Taylor figures to be the primary center fielder moving forward, even though he hadn’t played a professional game there entering this season. An unconventional but interesting option in center could be Bellinger, who has played 41 games there in the Minors.
Granderson figures to start a good number of games against righties and will be a strong option either off the bench or in the lineup in the postseason. He’s also an excellent human being and adds to an already-great clubhouse.
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