Dodgers and Tampa Bay Complete Trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers are continuing their busy week, today finalizing a trade that will send outfielder Luke Raley to the Tampa Bay Rays, in return for two-way player Tanner Dodson. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a trade that will send outfielder Luke Raley to Tampa Bay for Double-A reliever Tanner Dodson, who has played outfield in the past as well, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 18, 2022

Dodson, as noted by MLB Insider Jeff Passan, is a right-handed relief pitcher in Double-A, who also is a switch-hitting outfielder. The 24-year-old tossed 56 innings across high-A and AA in 2021, though only batted 25 times, without much success.

The 27-year-old Raley made his major league debut last season with the Dodgers, getting into 33 games, and in 66 at-bats, hit a couple of home runs. However, he had a fair amount of success in Triple-A previously, hitting .297 with a .937 OPS, 26 home runs and 12 stolen bases over the previous two seasons, split between the Dodgers' and Minnesota Twins' systems.

Two of the Rays' current outfielders, Kevin Kiermaier and Austin Meadows, have been mentioned in trade rumors in recent days, so the acquisition of Raley could be a precursor for another trade for Tampa Bay. 

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports