RAYS, DODGERS SWAP BATTERIES
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Mark Hendrickson, catcher Toby Hall and cash ($1 million) from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for catcher Dioner Navarro, pitcher Jae Seo and a player to be named later.
What does it give the Los Angeles Dodgers
With Odalis Perez crumbling this year and being demoted to the bullpen, the Dodgers have been in need of a lefty for the rotation. Big Hendrickson is just that and, even better, is in the midst of a career year in terms of his ERA. One of the tallest men in the game, the 6-9 southpaw gives the L.A. rotation a whole new dynamic, particularly in terms of NL hitters' lack of experience against him. As for Hall, he was proving in Tampa that he just wasn't cut out to play every day, so he'll be a solid backup to new No. 1 kid Russell Martin and provide occasional pop off the bench.
What does it give the Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays waited long enough on the 30-year-old Hall to break through as a strong No. 1 catcher. On to the next generation in Navarro, who at 22 already finds himself with his fourth organization (although he never actually played for the Diamondbacks, his second team). The kid is growing as a defensive catcher and already has a good, switch-hitting bat, off to a hot start this year before a wrist injury took him out in early May. He figures to be their No. 1 backstop for years to come. Starting pitching has been the Rays' biggest flaw from their inception and they hope Seo will help them there. After a breakthrough 2005 with the Mets, he was a bust in L.A. and banished to the bullpen, but it would be no surprise if the right-handed splitter-specialist is the one to replace Hendrickson in the rotation right away.
Fantasy impact
Player focus
Tampa Bay Rays
player to be named later - Justin Ruggiano