Dodgers, Phillies Swap Catchers, With Carlos Ruiz Heading West

THE DEAL

The Phillies and Dodgers swapped a pair of veteran catchers on Thursday, with Carlos Ruiz heading to Los Angeles and A.J. Ellis going to Philadelphia along with minor league righthander Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later.

It will be the first time either of the catchers will wear a different uniform. Ruiz signed as an international free agent with the Phillies in 1998 and played all 11 years of his major league career with them, while Ellis entered the Dodgers organization in 2003 as an 18th-round selection and played nine seasons with the Dodgers.

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PHILLIES ACQUIRE Tommy Bergjans, rhp Age: 23

The Dodgers drafted Bergjans in the eighth round in 2015 out of Division III Haverford College after he led the NCAA in strikeouts (111) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.84) as a senior. A native of the Los Angeles suburb of Manhattan Beach, Bergjans showed the same strikeout stuff in his first pro season but also had a habit of leaving too many pitches over the plate, particularly against opposing righthanders, who hit .294/.334/.469 against him. Bergjans features an 89-91 mph fastball with late run in on righthanders, along with a looping high-70s curveball and low-80s changeup that both presently grade below average and project as average at best from evaluators. He mixed and matched well enough to record more than a strikeout an inning with high Class A Rancho Cucamonga but also got hit plenty, with 9.6 hits-per-nine allowed. While some of that can be chalked up to the nature of pitching in the California League, his home park LoanMart Field is neutral, and Bergjans was 0-6, 5.31 with 59 hits allowed in 59 1/3 innings, along with 58 strikeouts in 11 outings there. Bergjans is a starter now but projects as a low-leverage reliever in the future if he can upgrade one of his secondary offerings.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
R. Cucamonga (CAL)	HiA	3	13	4.98	24	21	130	138	93	72	13	29	133

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A.J. Ellis, c Age: 35

Ellis had a decent run as the Dodgers starting catcher in 2012-13, posting a .255/.347/.390 slash line while averaging 12 home runs and earning raves for his handling of the pitching staff. He’s been reduced to little more than an unofficial coach in recent years however, getting limited time behind the plate as Yasmani Grandal’s backup the last two seasons and hitting .219 when he does get playing time. Ellis is renowned for his steady clubhouse persona and ability to help guide and prepare young pitchers even when he isn’t behind the plate, something that could help the Phillies young group of arms headlined by Vince Velasquez, Jake Thompson, Aaron Nola and Jared Eickhoff. In terms of on-field performance, he no longer offers much with a .206/.324/.299 slash line the past three seasons while recording a combined seven defensive runs saved below average, as measured by Baseball-Reference. He will be a free agent after this season.

Club (League)	Class	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	OBP	SLG
Los Angeles (NL)	MAJ	.194	53	139	8	27	5	0	1	13	16	24	1	.285	.252

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DODGERS ACQUIRE Carlos Ruiz, c Age: 37

Ruiz has still been effective this season despite his age, with his .268 batting average and .362 on-base percentage in a backup role a clear upgrade for the Dodgers over what they were receiving from Ellis. Ruiz has been strong defensively as well, recording two defensive runs saved above average by Baseball-Reference’s formula and throwing out 40 percent of basestealers. Ruiz is signed through this year and has a $4.5 million team option for 2017, giving the Dodgers an experienced, performing veteran backup for at least another season if they wish to keep him.

Club (League)	Class	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	OBP	SLG
Philadelphia (NL)	MAJ	.261	48	165	18	43	6	0	3	12	24	28	3	.368	.352