Dodgers Acquire Logan Forsythe From Rays For Top Prospect

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the acquisition of second baseman Logan Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. 

In exchange, the Rays received right-handed pitching prospect Jose De Leon. 

This deal gives the Dodgers their 2017 second baseman. Forsythe replaces Chase Utley, who remains a free agent. Los Angeles had been involved in the trade market for this piece, but they had mostly been looking at the Twins' Brian Dozier. 

---

The 30-year-old Forsythe was a supplemental 1st round pick by the San Diego Padres back in 2008, and he came up with the team in 2011. 

Last season, Forsythe posted a strong .264/.333/.444 slash line with 20 home runs and 52 RBIs, adding six stolen bases. Defensively, Forsythe came out just below average, according to both UZR and defensive runs saved. 

All in all, Forsythe was a productive second baseman last year, and he was worth 2.8 fWAR, ranking 13th among those at his position. 

Forsythe is currently signed through the 2017 season on a two-year, $10.25 million contract. The deal does include a team option for 2018, valued at $8.5 million with a $1 million buyout. If he continues his good performance, it seems like a fairly safe bet that Forsythe's option is picked up. 

With the Dodgers, he is likely to be plugged into the top of the lineup. A double-play combination of Corey Seager and Forsythe is likely to give teams headaches on both sides of the ball. 

Forsythe, while productive, forced the Dodgers to give up one of their best prospects. 

De Leon, 24, ranked as the 24th-best prospect in all of the minor leagues prior to the 2016, according to MLB.com. 

Making his Major League debut in Sept., De Leon made four starts, posting a 6.35 ERA and a 15-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 17 total innings pitched. He is expected to begin 2017 in the minors, but it might not be long before he is in the Rays' rotation. 

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports first reported the agreement, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported De Leon's inclusion. 

--Devan Fink