Philadelphia Phillies Trade Shane Victorino to Los Angeles Dodgers

With roughly four hours remaining until the trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies have just sent center fielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for right-handed reliever Josh Lindblom and starting pitching prospect Ethan Martin, according to USA Today. 

Victorino, 31, was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers as a Rule 5 pick before the 2005 season. During his time in Philadelphia, Victorino amassed three Gold Gloves and made two All-Star Game appearances. He’s got a .277 career batting average with 88 home runs and a .776 OPS and will likely play left field for the Dodgers.

The 25-year-old Lindblom is in the midst of his first full major league season, though he made 27 appearances last year. He’s a good option for the Phillies as a possible set-up man or as a middle reliever. On the season, Lindblom’s got a 3.02 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and a 1.26 WHIP.

Martin, a right-handed pitcher, came in ranked as the 17th-best prospect in the Dodgers’ system before the season according to Baseball America. He’s got the potential to be a number two starter in the major leagues, but he hasn’t yet harnessed that potential. The Dodgers’ first pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Martin has four pitches: a fastball that can hit as high as 98 miles per hour (mph), a curveball with bite yet it’s inconsistent, a slider that sits in the 82-84 mph range, and a changeup that ranges from 84-86 mph.

The biggest issue with Martin is his mechanics. He tends to rush his delivery and can’t keep his form going each time out on the mound. Consistency is his worst problem, but if he can ever get his mechanics down, everything should work out for him.

So now, the Phillies have officially begun the fire sale. Domonic Brown is on his way to Washington, D.C. for tonight’s game. And the Phillies will get a reliever they hope will ease their bullpen problems, along with a pitching prospect who’s still got promise. The Dodgers get a better left field option than what they currently have now, and Victorino should be able to help them make a push for an NL West division title.

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