Ronnie Belliard Traded to the Dodgers
August 30, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Baseball
To add some depth to their infield positions, the Los Angeles Dodgers sent a minor league pitcher and a player to be named in the future to the Washington Nationals for Ronnie Belliard. Belliard has experience playing at second base, third base and first base.
On the season, the native of New York is hitting .246 with five homers, 22 RBIs and 26 runs. However, he’s been playing especially well since the All-Star break. In 83 at-bats, he’s hitting .325 with three homers, 14 RBIs and 16 runs.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre likes the flexibility Belliard will offer his club.
“It gives me the ability to spell these guys,” explained Torre. “He gives us a little more depth with experience coming off the bench.”
With the Dodgers looking to make noise in the playoffs, Belliard’s postseason experience could also have been a factor in this swap. In 2006, Belliard was the starting second baseman for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
The minor leaguer pitcher Washington received was 22-year-old Luis Garcia.
Ronnie Belliard traded to the Dodgers (Image: Zuma Press)
