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LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers won their fifth straight game on Friday night, improving to 86-34 on the season, a cool 52 games over .500, and 12 games clear of the next-best record in MLB. That didn’t stop them from trying to improve the team.
The Dodgers traded for outfielder Curtis Granderson late Friday night, acquiring him from the Mets for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Granderson is making $15 million in 2017, with approximately $3,606,557 remaining the rest of the season. The Mets are sending cash in the deal, though it is unknown yet just how much.
The 36-year-old outfielder got off to a slow start in April -- and 11-for-86 month that saw him hit just .128/.174/.221 — but since May 1 is hitting .263/.383/.570 with 18 home runs and 19 doubles in 88 games.
Granderson hit three of his home runs in seven games against the Dodgers this season.
If there is one word to describe what the Dodgers have built this season, it is probably depth, and Granderson just adds to that.
Now, to figure out where everybody plays.
The roster crunch already started on Friday, with the activation of Adrian Gonzalez from the disabled list. That moves Cody Bellinger from first base to the outfield, which means the club will rely more on the versatility of Chris Taylor, who has played left field, center field, second base, shortstop, and third base this season.
At the very least, Granderson gives the Dodgers another experienced bat on the bench in October. But he very well could play at least semi-regularly.
Ultimately, this can’t be good news for the playing time of Joc Pederson, who doubled on Friday but is in a 2-for-41 slump, hitting .215/.329/.418 on the season. Pederson, who like Granderson is left-handed, is hitting .221/.339/.446 with 10 home runs against right-handers.
Granderson is hitting .230/.349/.504 with 15 of his 19 home runs against right-handed pitching in 2017. He has started 56 times in center field this season, along with 24 times in right field and four times in left.
The Dodgers designated pitcher Dylan Floro for assignment to make room for Granderson on the 40-man roster. They will have to make a corresponding transaction to make room on the active roster once Granderson joins the team.