The Los Angeles Dodgers’ day of activity grew to include a trade for reliever Josh Fields from the Houston Astros in exchange for Minor League first baseman Yordan Alvarez. The deal was formally announced after the 1 p.m. PT non-waiver deadline.
Fields was selected No. 20 overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 2008 Draft, though debuted in the Majors with the Astros in 2013. He was on the Astros’ Opening Day roster this season but struggled and was optioned to Triple-A Fresno in May.
Fields owned a 6.89 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 15 games with the Astros, though his 2.81 FIP and 28.2 percent strikeout rate are reasons for some optimism.
The 30-year-old found success after being sent to the Minors, finishing 1-0 with one save, a 1.65 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in 23 relief appearances. Opponents batted .192 off Fields during that span.
In four seasons with the Astros, Fields went 9-10 with nine saves, a 4.53 ERA, 2.91 FIP and 1.26 WHIP in 164 games. He has one option year remaining. He joins Jesse Chavez, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays, as relief pitchers the Dodgers acquired on Monday.
The Dodgers signed Alvarez out of Cuba just prior to the 2015-2016 international signing period closing in June. He hit .279/.342/.327 with three doubles, two triples, one home run and 26 RBIs in 74 games over two seasons with Las Tunas in Cuba’s Serie Nacional.
Hyun-Jin Ryu was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to clear room for Fields on the 40-man roster. Ryu will be eligible to be reinstated from the DL on Sept. 6.
