In the time leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline the Los Angeles Dodgers were most prominently linked to Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce in their search to acquire an outfielder. Los Angeles at one point was proclaimed by many the favorite to land Bruce.
The Dodgers instead traded for Josh Reddick as part of a five-player deal with the Oakland Athletics in which Los Angeles also received Rich Hill. Oakland was in town to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, making it seamless for Hill and Reddick to join their new teammates.
While Hill is on the 15-day disabled list and working his way back from a blister, Reddick was immediately thrown into the fire. He started in right field and hit in the cleanup spot for the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Although the 29-year-old was acquired to be the Dodgers’ everyday right fielder, Reddick was not in the lineup on Wednesday against Colorado Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson.
Despite that, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the club’s new outfielder is not viewed as being part of a platoon, via Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA:
“He’s not a platoon player for us. There might be times where I hit for him late in the game against a certain left-handed reliever. As far as him playing, there are going to be days where I choose to play other righties. He’s going to get his opportunities to play against lefties.”
Joc Pederson was the lone left-handed batter in the Dodgers’ lineup on Wednesday night. Reddick is hitting .167/.247/.167 (11-for-66) with seven walks against lefties this season. Conversely, he’s batting .341/.408/.547 off right-handers in 2016, with all 20 of his extra-base hits (11 doubles, one triple, eight home runs).
In his career, Reddick is a .222/.286/.371 hitter off southpaws. His not starting is similar to Pederson splitting time with Trayce Thompson in center field earlier this season. Although it appeared to be a platoon, Roberts remained adamant it was not.
