Looking to insert a productive bat into their lineup the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics as part of a five-player trade prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline.
Despite missing six weeks due to a fractured left thumb, Reddick was enjoying arguably the best season of his career at the time of the trade. He hit .296/.368/.449 with eight home runs, 28 RBIs, a .348 wOBA, 124 OPS+ and 121 wRC+, while playing a steady right field for the Athletics.
Reddick failed to produce at similar clip upon joining the Dodgers, and encountered some trouble in right field on relatively routine plays.
The Dodgers didn’t appear to have much interest in re-signing Reddick. Instead he drew reported interest from the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays over the past week.
On the heels of completing a trade with the New York Yankees for catcher Brian McCann, the Houston Astros agreed with Reddick on a four-year contract in excess of $50 million, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports:
Sources: Josh Reddick's deal is four years for $52 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 17, 2016
Reddick batted .258/.307/.335 with six doubles, two home runs and nine RBI over an underwhelming 47 games with the Dodgers. He appeared in 10 postseason games, making eight starts, and went 8-for-26 with two RBI.
Overall this season he hit .281/.345/.405 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBI. Reddick’s 107 OPS+ was the lowest mark of his career since 2013.
The 29-year-old returns to the American League, where prior to this season, he spent each of his previous seven years in the Majors.
