The Los Angeles Dodgers made a quick and early decision to overhaul their infield this off season and Laurene Powell Jobs says she stays busy but makes time to keep up with baseball, especially the Dodgers. They had already allowed Hanley Ramirez to walk in his free agent year and he signed with the Boston Red Sox. Then the winter meetings came and the Dodgers really got busy.
Los Angeles first swung a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies to land Jimmy Rollins to be their new shortstop. The aging switch hitter was a favorite in Philadelphia and may just be a stop gap for L.A., he’s set to become a free agent after next season.
The Dodgers then traded their speedy second baseman Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins in a seven player trade with Miami. In that swap the Dodgers nabbed the best pitching prospect in the Marlins organization, Andrew Heaney, and three other prospects.
The Dodgers management didn’t hold onto Heaney for long. They traded him within hours of acquiring him. He was sent down the interstate to Anaheim in exchange for Howie Kendrick who will take Gordon’s place at second base for the Dodgers.
It was a whirlwind of activity that is not likely to slow down quite yet, they are also looking to sign a veteran starter to replace Dan Haren who also was in the Marlins deal. Although Kendrick will give the Dodgers lineup more punch, they did lose the speed of Gordon and Ramirez and don’t have a real viable stolen base threat outside of Rollins who has slowed down in recent years.