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| Dodgers Swap Santana, Meloan for Casey Blake
Story URL: http://dodgers.scout.com/2/772572.html | |
| Tot Holmes LADugout.com | Jul 26, 2008 |
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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 -------------------------------------------------------- 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 Copyright © Scout.com and LADugout.com | |