The Boston Red Sox acquired Alejandro De Aza from the Baltimore Orioles in June, but the outfielder could be on the move again before the season’s stretch run.
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Dodgers Interested in De Aza
Monday, Aug. 17
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports noted Monday that the Los Angeles Dodgers talked to the Red Sox about De Aza’s availability as a potential alternative to trading for Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies.
De Aza boasts a .273 average with seven home runs and 32 RBI on the season, but he has a .313 line since coming to Boston, which likely sparked Los Angeles’ interest. He can play all three outfield positions and has solid speed that helps him cover plenty of ground.
De Aza does hit from the left side, and the Dodgers already have three left-handed hitting outfielders in Carl Crawford, Joc Pederson and Andre Ethier. However, Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors believes there could be a financial reason behind this interest:
The major difference between De Aza and the in-house veterans lies in the contractual realm. Boston only took on $1MM of his salary in acquiring him from the Orioles, and he’ll hit free agency after the season, so he’s a cheap rental piece at this point. Ethier ($38MM over two seasons) and Crawford ($41.75MM over two seasons) come with significant guarantees after the current year, though both have been rather productive at the plate. It’s conceivable, at least, that Los Angeles would have interest in an immediate replacement for either player if they found a trade partner willing to take on a piece of the future obligations.
Outside of the money aspect, Rosenthal suggested that acquiring De Aza would free utility man Enrique Hernandez to completely fill in for the injured Howie Kendrick at second base. The Dodgers would no longer need Hernandez to slide into the outfield when a regular needed a day off with De Aza available as an option off the bench.
Utley is a proven veteran, but the 23-year-old Hernandez has played admirably with starts at second base, shortstop, center field, left field and right field this season alone.
He provides steady contact at the plate and occasional power (six home runs this year), and he earned praise from manager Don Mattingly in the process, per Tony Ciniglio of the Los Angeles Daily News:
He’s been really good. (President of Baseball Operations) Andrew (Friedman) and I were talking the other day. When you talk about all the things he can do, you almost automatically throw him into that utility role, and it’s unfair.
Kike looks like a guy right now who can play every day.
If Los Angeles adds outfield depth in the form of De Aza instead of second baseman Utley, Hernandez can confirm his manager's suspicions and play every day while Kendrick nurses his hamstring injury.
He has looked comfortable in that role in critical games and gives the Dodgers important versatility in a division title chase with the San Francisco Giants.
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