Dodgers’ Trade Acquisitions Have Not Produced as Expected

Gonzalez has only hit three home runs in 123 at-bats

Though their new ownership group led by Stan Kasten and Magic Johnson opened the vault and acquired a myriad of veterans for the stretch run, the Los Angeles Dodgers are three games out in the wild card race with six games remaining, so the math is not in their favor. Even so, general manager Ned Colletti believes the acquisitions will help the team contend next season and beyond, he told MLB.com.

As Baseball News Source reported earlier this month, Colletti and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly will return in 2013. It is not certain if July trade acquisition Shane Victorino will return since the Dodgers have a crowded outfield with Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford. The latter was part of a blockbuster trade with the Red Sox in August that also yielded first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, starting pitcher Josh Beckett and utility infielder Nick Punto. All three are under contract next season. Crawford is under contract as well, but Victorino will be a free agent.

Beckett, the veteran right-hander who was brought in because of his proven post-season pedigree despite atrocious numbers with Boston this season (5-11, 5.23 ERA, 21 starts), is 1-3 with a 3.16 ERA in six starts since joining the Dodgers.

Joe Blanton, who was acquired from the Phillies, is 1-4 with a 5.57 ERA in nine starts.

Gonzalez has only hit three home runs in 123 at-bats wearing a Dodgers uniform. He has a .276 average, 21 RBI and a .759 OPS. Though the numbers pale in comparison to what Gonzalez typically produces – he has a career .877 OPS, for example – Colletti told MLB.com that he would be pleased if the first baseman generates similar stats over his Dodgers career.

Hanley Ramirez, who was brought in from the Miami Marlins before the July trade deadline, has a .261 average and a .761 OPS with 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 230 at-bats with the Dodgers. Like Gonzalez, Ramirez has not delivered as much run production as anticipated. Neither has Victorino, who has a .227 average and one home run in 185 at-bats since arriving from Philadelphia.

Surprisingly, the most productive hitter acquired by the Dodgers is Punto, who has a career .248 average and was batting .200 with the Red Sox. The versatile Punto has a .345 average (10-for-29) for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers, of course, did not think that Punto would have the most favorable numbers out of their trade acquisitions. The lack of overall production from those acquisitions – and season-ending injuries to pitchers Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly – are key reasons why the Dodgers need help to reach the playoffs.