Dodgers broadcaster's grandson sent to Phillies

The Dodgers acquired Shane Victorino in July. Now they've sent a member of the Dodgers family -- literally -- to Philadelphia as a PTBNL.

A Perfect Sort Of Deadline Trade

Shortly before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers added outfielder Shane Victorino. It doesn't get a whole lot better than this, all around.

FanGraphs: Shane Victorino Trade Great For LA

Tuesday morning, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to exchange Shane Victorino for Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin. Free-agent-to-be Victorino gives the Dodgers an actual everyday left fielder, while Lindblom and Martin give the Phillies some highly-rated prospects. Or, some guys who were once highly-rated prospects. Now? Over at FanGraphs, Dave Cameron likes what the Dodgers have done.

Victorino replaces a black hole of a job share in left field, pushing Bobby Abreu and Tony Gwynn back to the bench where they belong. Given that he’s also replacing guys who were offering no production, this trade has the potential to offer the same kind of upgrade as last week’s Hanley Ramirez acquisition. The Dodgers have to be thrilled that they could solve their left field issues at this kind of low price, and they continue to put pressure on the Giants to make a counter if they want to keep pace in the NL West. This new Dodgers roster is a lot better than the one they were running out there two weeks ago.

For the Phillies, you can understand why they made this deal, assuming they weren’t going to give Victorino a qualifying offer in order to get draft pick compensation, but getting a bad command fly ball reliever and a bad command fly ball pitching prospect is not exactly a huge return. The Dodgers have to be pleased with how the last few weeks have gone, and if they add Ryan Dempster this afternoon, they might just be the big trade deadline winners.

Victorino owns just a 94 OPS+, but it was 130 a year ago and it's 103 for his career. He's also a capable defender, and the Dodgers have given most of their left-field time to Bobby Abreu, Juan Rivera, and Tony Gwynn. Victorino's a good get. Lindblom? Not a guy the Dodgers will miss, now that they've added Brandon League. And Martin? Martin was a high draft pick in 2008, but still he struggles with command and could easily have a future in the bullpen. One can't know how much the Phillies could have gotten for a pending free agent, but the Dodgers added value without really losing it.

Phillies Trade Shane Victorino To Dodgers

It took 13 years for Shane Victorino to make the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thirteen years and a trade, to be specific. The Dodgers acquired the former All-Star outfielder from the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin.

Phillies have traded Victorino to Dodgers for Lindblom and Ethan martin

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) July 31, 2012

The 31-year-old Victorino is hitting .261/.324/.401 this season -- a far cry from his stellar numbers last year, but not too far from his .277/.342/.434 career line. The nine-year veteran is a pending free agent who has been with the Phillies for the last eight years after going over as a Rule 5 pick in 2004. He'll likely play in left field, with Juan Rivera getting more time at first in place of James Loney.

Lindblom, 25, is a hard-throwing right-hander who has thrown 47 innings for the Dodgers this year, striking out 43 and walking 18 with a 3.02 ERA.

Martin, 23, is a former first-round pick of the Dodgers, going 15th overall in the 2008 draft. The right-hander has a 3.58 ERA in 20 starts this season, his second in Double-A. He's struck out 112 and walked 61 in 118 innings.

The Phillies will recall Domonic Brown from Triple-A to replace Victorino, according to Jayson Stark.

MLB Trade Rumors: Dodgers, Phillies Discuss Shane Victorino Deal

Shane Victorino was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999; he was taken from them twice in the Rule 5 draft, once by the Padres (and then returned), and in 2004 by the Phillies, for whom he has starred in several postseasons.

Now, he could be headed back to his original organization. Jon Heyman:

The Dodgers are in serious talks with the Phillies for outfielder Shane Victorino, CBSSports.com has learned.

The Giants and Reds had also been in the mix, but the Phillies appear to be focuing on the Dodgers.

Los Angeles acquired Brandon League late Monday, possibly allowing them to send a reliever to the Phillies. Philly has been seeking young relief help in exchange for Victorino.

And who could that reliever be? Jayson Stark has the answer:

#dodgers and #Phillies close to a deal sending Shane Victorino to LA for Josh Lindblom and 2nd player. More to come at ESPN.com

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 31, 2012

Stay tuned; it sounds like this deal could happen Tuesday morning.

Shane Victorino On Reds' Trade Radar

The Cincinnati Reds are in the market for some sort of leadoff hitter, and Shane Victorino is at least theoretically available.