LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers officially acquired Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier and Toronto reliever John Axford just before Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Logan Forsythe and two Minor Leaguers went to the Twins for Dozier, whom the Dodgers tried to acquire two winters ago, but they felt the cost was too high (Walker Buehler and Cody Bellinger were among Minnesota's ask) and settled for Forsythe in a one-for-one trade with Tampa Bay for young right-handed pitcher Jose De Leon, who has since had Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers dealt Minor League pitcher Corey Copping for Axford, who saved 46 games for the Brewers in 2011. But Axford has bounced around since. He was 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 51 innings for the Blue Jays. The Dodgers have been desperately trying to find relievers to join Scott Alexander for the seventh and eighth innings as setup men for closer Kenley Jansen.
Dozier, 31, is having a down year, batting .224 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. Two years ago, he had 42 homers and 99 RBIs. In 2015, he was an All-Star. He will be a free agent after this season. Dozier and Forsythe each make $9 million this year, so the Dodgers did not add payroll with this deal.
Forsythe, a solid defender, is having an even worse offensive year, batting .207 with two homers and 13 RBIs, having lost playing time to Chase UtleyMax Muncy and Enrique Hernandez.
Going to the Twins with Forsythe, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, are outfielder Luke Raley and pitcher Devin Smeltzer. MLB Pipeline ranked Raley No. 19 in the Dodgers' system.
Dozier joins the even bigger impact acquisition of All-Star Manny Machado from Baltimore on July 18 in a 5-for-1 rental for the slugger, who will be a free agent after this season. The package of young players the Dodgers sent to the Orioles was headed by Cuban outfielder Yusniel Diaz, then-Dodgers' No. 4 prospect, who homered twice in the MLB Futures Game.
The Dodgers also sent Baltimore right-handed pitchers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop, third baseman Rylan Bannon and infielder Breyvic Valera. Kremer was the Dodgers' No. 27 prospect and Bannon No. 28, according to MLB Pipeline.
The two trades rebuild half of a Dodgers infield that was disrupted by the early-season loss of shortstop Corey Seager to Tommy John surgery. Machado, the American League's starting All-Star shortstop this year, has been playing third base for the Dodgers while Justin Turner has been on the disabled list with a strained right groin muscle.
Turner is expected to return in early August, with Machado sliding over to shortstop. With Dozier likely to start at second base every day, Muncy and Bellinger share first base, with Bellinger also playing center field.
Chris Taylor has been starting at shortstop, but he will be displaced when Turner returns. Taylor played center field most of last year, when he had his breakout offensive season.
Ken Gurnick/MLB.com
 

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