Welcome to the Blue, Kristopher Negrón!

Due to some recent injuries -- Chris Taylor, David Freese and Kiké Hernández -- the Dodgers suddenly found themselves lacking in the utility department. So, instead of looking within to find a solution they have reached out to the Mariners to make a deal. Over the weekend the Dodgers traded for utilityman Kristopher Negrón in exchange for minor league prospect Daniel Castro, an infielder. BTW, you can follow Negrón on twitter: @KNegs17. Per a Dodgers press release:

Negrón, 33, has appeared in nine games for the Mariners, batting .227 (5-for-22) with three runs and one RBI. Prior to having his contract selected on July 16, Negrón was batting .310 (95-for-306) with 12 homers and 61 RBI in 82 games for Triple-A Reno. He has played parts of six Major League seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners, recording a combined .216 batting average with seven homers and 25 RBI. The California native has played seven different positions in his Major League career, recording a .984 fielding percentage in 307 chances. He was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh round (223rd overall) of the 2006 First Year Player Draft out Cosumnes River Junior College (Ca.).

Castro, 26, has spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He batted .241 (40-for-166) with six doubles, one homer and 11 RBI in 45 games for Oklahoma City. This was his first season with the Dodger organization after signing a minor league contract with Los Angeles on November 20, 2018.

So, Kristopher is basically all glove. Although, I suppose there's a possibility he becomes a productive bat off the bench -- given his good numbers in Triple-A. That said, I wouldn't keep your hopes up. Per Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors:

Originally acquired from the D’Backs last August, Negron has appeared in 27 total games for Seattle, including nine outings this season.  The 33-year-old has a career .216/.289/.328 slash line over 357 career MLB plate appearances in parts of six seasons, though his ability with the bat is much less important to the Dodgers than the versatility that Negron brings in the field.

One thing I'd like to add, it seems to me that this trade signals that top-prospect Gavin Lux is unlikely to be called up soon. Given the injuries to Taylor, Freese and Hernández, it would have made some sense to give the young stud infielder a chance to show what he's got now. The Dodgers could've kept Muncy at first base full-time, moved Lux to second base and keep Joc Pederson (who has looked poor defensively at 1st) in the outfield. Instead, the Dodgers decided to find a capable glove to backup Seager and Muncy, and will continue the first base experiment with Joc Pederson.

In celebration of his addition to the club I made the above two fantasy custom baseball cads of him.

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