The Dodgers exchanged one backup catcher for another on Thursday, the kind of deal that normally attracts little attention. This one gets headlines because of the big names involved.
The Dodgers sent A.J. Ellis, one of their most popular players and Clayton Kershaw’s preferred catcher, to the Philadelphia Phillies for Carlos Ruiz.
Ruiz, 37, has an .830 OPS against left-handers this season. Ellis, 35, has a .616 OPS against left-handers this season.
The Dodgers could face left-handers in trying to win the National League West (Madison Bumgarner and Matt Moore of the San Francisco Giants) and in trying to advance through the NL playoffs (Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals and Jon Lester of the Chicago Cubs, although Ruiz is hitless in 14 career at-bats off Lester).