Fansided

Dodgers acquire catcher Carlos Ruiz from Phillies for 3 players

By Ted Fleming

Aug 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers will give up backstop A.J. Ellis, minor league RHP Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later in a trade with the Phillies for Carlos Ruiz.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added some punch to their lineup by trading for Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz in exchange for three players, according to a report at philly.com. He is expected to share time behind the plate with Yasmani Grandal.

The 37-year old is an 11-year big league veteran who is having a solid season in Philadelphia with a .261/.368/.352 slashline in 48 games and gives the Dodgers another veteran to an already stacked roster.

Ruiz was already rumored to be moved as one of the last remnants of the last Philadelphia championship club in 2008 after he had passed through waivers. Only Ryan Howard remains.

Ruiz is considered one of the greatest catchers in the 134-year history of the club and has one of the highest career fielding percentages among all qualifying catchers for the Phillies. Only three other catchers — Mike Lieberthal (1,139), Red Dooin (1,124) and Bob Boone (1,095) — have played more games than Ruiz’s 1,029.

Nicknamed Chooch, the Panama native will be joining just his second club after signing with the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1998. He is in the final year of a three-year, $26 million deal. The trade gives him one more shot at a World Series ring.

In return, the Phillies get catcher A.J. Ellis, a minor-league pitcher named Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later. Ellis is 35 and is hitting just .194 in 53 contests. He is signed through the 2016 season at a reasonable $4.5 million and has spent his entire career with LA after being drafted in the 18th round in 2003.

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Bergjans, however, has struggled this season at High-A Rancho Cucamonga with a 3-13 record to go with a 4.98 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. However, he has shown the ability to strike people out, fanning 133 in 130 innings. Originally taken in the eighth round of the 2015 draft, the 22-year old was 3-3 with two lower class clubs before this year.

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