While the Padres have certainly been busy trying to catch up to the Dodgers in the NL West, Andrew Friedman is not too worried. The Dodgers are in a place where there is absolutely no need to add any big pieces this offseason, though it would be nice. Instead, they have settled for smaller low-risk high-reward moves.
The ball club continued that trend with a three-team deal involving the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers will be receiving left-handed pitcher Garrett Cleavinger from the Phillies while sending infielder Dillon Paulson and a PTBNL or cash considerations to the Rays. The Phillies are set to acquire left-hander Jose Alvarado who has been a big piece for the Rays’ bullpen in recent seasons.
Three-way trade with the Dodgers, Phillies and Rays.
Phillies get hard-throwing lefty reliever Jose Alvarado from TB.
Dodgers get lefty Garrett Cleavinger from Phillies.
Rays get infielder Dillon Paulson and a PTBNL from Dodgers.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 29, 2020
Paulson, a 23-year old first baseman, has yet to play above High A where he hit .293 with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs in 35 games. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2018 Draft out of USC. Through 175 minor league games, he batted a combined .253 with 26 home runs and 125 RBI.
Cleavinger made his big league debut this year for the Phillies giving up a solo home run and striking out one in 0.2 of an inning. That would be the only appearance for the 26-year old this year.
Here's a look at Garrett Cleavinger, who goes from #Phillies to #Dodgers in the 3-team trade involving the #Rays: https://t.co/1UQsS82NKj
▪️ Obtained in Jeremy Hellickson trade in 2017
▪️ #Orioles' No. 15 prospect in '17
▪️ 2015 3rd-round pick
▪️ @OregonBaseball closer pic.twitter.com/ljPoXRIl3w— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 29, 2020
In 220.1 innings in the minor leagues, he pitched to a 19-12 record with a 4.08 ERA and 294 strikeouts. It’s not the type of move that will make headlines, but it bolsters the Dodgers’ already deep pitching depth while giving them a quality arm to mold into yet another weapon.