Dodgers Swap Santana, Meloan for Casey Blake

Los Angeles swapped a couple of pieces of their future with the hopes that will positively effect the present. 23-year-old RHP Jonathan Meloan and 22-year-old All-Star catcher Carlos Santana are headed to Cleveland for 34-year-old third baseman Casey Blake. He also has been used sparingly at shortstop.

Blake, eligible for free agency following this season, is batting .289 with 11 homers and 58 RBIs, and is also hitting .398 with runners in scoring position.

He has a career batting average of .265, and in five previous Major League seasons has never hit fewer than 17 homers or driven in fewer than 58 runs, with career highs of 28 homers and 88 RBIs.

The Dodgers are hoping that Blake will brings experience and versatility while they wait for Blake DeWitt and/or Andy LaRoche to develop. The 34-year-old has played right field, first base and third for the Indians, who signed him as a minor league free agent in 2002.

He had a tough time at the plate last season, batting .190 with runners in scoring position and much like Andruw Jones, was often a target of Indians fans, who never seemed to appreciate his all-around value.

Blake signed a $6.1 million contract at the start of the season, and the Iowa native has said he would like to finish his career with the Indians.

Meloan, the Dodgers' fifth round pick in 2005, was switched from a starter to a reliever in 2007 and saved 19 games for Jacksonville, making a cameo appearance with the Dodgers late in the season and recording an 11.05 ERA over five games.

He was ranked as the organization's No. 8 prospect by Baseball America entering this season and was 5-10 with a 4.97 ERA at Las Vegas this season.

Santana, a slugging switch-hitter, was moved from third base to behind the plate and blossomed this season, batting .323 with 14 homers and 96 RBIs at Inland Empire. He might be considered the key to the deal for the Indians, but the Dodgers feel they are covered with All-Star Russell Martin in the Major Leagues and Lucas May at Double-A.

Casey Blake      Bats, throws right  200 lbs
 Born- August 23, 1973
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year	tm   ave    gm    ab   r    h  2b 3b  hr   bi  sb
1999	Tor   .256   14   39   6   10   2  0   1   1  0-0  
2000	Minn  .188    7   16   1    3   2  0   0   1  0-0
2001	Minn  .243   19   37   3    9   1  0   1   2  0-0
2002	Minn  .200    9   20   2    4   1  0   0   1  0-0
2003	Clev  .257  152  557  80  143  35  0  17  67  7-9
2004	Clev  .271  152  587  93  159  36  3  28  88  5-8
2005	Clev  .241  147  523  72  126  32  1  23  58  4-5
2006	Clev  .282  109  401  63  113  20  1  19  68  6-0
2007	Clev  .270  156  588  81  159  36  4  18  78  4-5
2008	Clev  .289   94  325  46   94  24  0  11  58  2-0