Dodgers acquire Brian Dozier from Twins for Logan Forsythe, two minor leaguers

About 18 months after trade talks between the Dodgers and Twins disintegrated, the two clubs have come to an agreement that sends second baseman Brian Dozier to Los Angeles Tuesday.

Heading back to Minnesota in the deal is second baseman Logan Forsythe, left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer and outfielder Luke Raley.

There will be no cash exchanged in the deal according to reports. Dozier is in the final year of a four year, $20 million deal, while Forsythe was on the end of his club option year at $9 million. This saves the Dodgers money since Dozier counts for $5 million against the tax threshold they’re trying to stay under, while Forsythe counts for the full contract amount.

Dozier is hitting .224/.305/.402 with 16 home runs in 2018 and has been one of the premier power-hitting second baseman over the last several years. Since the start of 2014, Dozier has hit 143 dingers in 724 games, 40 more than anyone at the position over that time.

Typically a second half hitter, Dozier has hit 49 of his 76 homers after the All-Star break between 2016 and 2017, with an OPS 53 points higher over his career.

One of the Dodgers biggest holes this season has been second base when it comes to hitting lefties. Forsythe was supposed to be the answer to that when they acquired him from the Rays before the 2017 season. The 31-year-old has struggled in 2018, hitting .176 (15-for-85) with just four extra-base hits and 21 strikeouts against left-handers.

Dozier on the other hand, is hitting .292/.379/.560 with 24 homers against lefties since the start of the 2016 season. If that’s what Dozier is bringing to the lineup, that’s a significant upgrade for Los Angeles.

Overall, Forsythe was hitting .207 this season and hit .218/.325/.314 in 189 games for the Dodgers over the past two seasons.

As for the minor leaguers in the deal, Smeltzer is a 22-year-old left-hander that was drafted in the fifth round in 2016. In 23 appearances (14 starts) at Double-A Tulsa, Smeltzer is 5-5 with a 4.73 ERA.

Raley, also with Tulsa, is a 23-year-old outfielder that was taken in the same 2016 draft in the seventh round. In 93 games this season, Raley hit .275/.345/.477 with 39 extra-base hits, including 17 homers.

When our David Hood released his midseason prospect list recently, Raley was ranked 22nd, while Smeltzer didn’t make the list.