Dodgers trade Hatcher, reinstate Segedin
Righty dealt to A's for int'l amateur signing bonus pool space; INF/OF activated off 60-day DL
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have traded right-handed reliever Chris Hatcher to the Oakland A's in exchange for international pool bonus money, the club announced on Tuesday.
Hatcher was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list on Sunday after missing 42 games because of thoracic inflammation and hasn't pitched since June 22. Manager Dave Roberts said innings would have been hard to come by for Hatcher, given the Dodgers' bullpen depth.
With Hatcher sent the A's, the Dodgers reinstated Rob Segedin from the 60-day DL. The infielder/outfielder has missed 102 games due to a right toe strain and wrist surgery. He appeared in 10 rehab games between Triple-A Oklahoma City and the Dodgers' Rookie League affiliate, hitting .333 with three doubles and six RBIs.
Segedin gives the Dodgers a right-handed bat for pinch-hitting situations and a four-man bench. The 28-year-old only appeared in two games before he was injured on a check swing on April 18 against the D-backs.
"[He] played well for us last year," Roberts said. "The ability to play corners in the outfield, play third, play some first, to be a right-handed bat off the bench who could potentially slug, drive in a run is a good thing for us."
Puig moved up in lineup
With Joc Pederson in a slump, the Dodgers reshuffled their lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the White Sox. Yasiel Puig moved up from the eight hole to the No. 6 slot. Puig, who is slashing .288/.354/.550 with 20 homers against right-handers, had only batted sixth in six games this season.
Roberts said Puig's move gives Pederson and John Forsythe a chance to get back on track and adds protection for rookie Cody Bellinger in the lineup.
"If you look at what Cody's done," Roberts said. "And the fear that he posses on opposing pitchers and what Yasiel has done right handed pitching, to have him behind might make someone think twice about pitching around Cody. Again, it's not necessarily a reward or demotion type thing. I don't look at it like that at all for any of the situations. It's just more of looking at what I feel gives us the best chance to win."