Darwin Barney becomes a Dodger

The Dodgers added Darwin Barney in a trade this week. By By Johnmaxmena2 (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

In the midst of an enigmatic season and swirling trade rumors, the Dodgers finally made a trade yesterday, acquiring Darwin Barney from the Cubs for a player to be named later.

It’s a move that seems a little awkward at first glance. The Dodgers had second-base issues at the beginning of the season when Alex Guerrero wasn’t ready to play in the majors and Dee Gordon wasn’t an All-Star. Over halfway into the season, Gordon has been a 10 triple, 46 stolen base, All-Star revelation.

Aside from first base, the Dodgers have had some uncertainty at all the infield positions at some point this season. The starting infield of Adrian Gonzalez, Dee Gordon, Hanley Ramirez, and Juan Uribe haven’t been as intact as you’d like them to be. Carlos Triunfel and Miguel Rojas have played 51 games between the two of them. Justin Turner, the opening-day second baseman, has played better than I thought he would in 66 games, but he’s not exactly a key part of a world series contender.

So what is the takeaway from this deal? Perhaps it was a move that somehow primes the Dodgers to start making moves that really count — like trading away an outfielder to make room for Joc Pederson in center or trading for another starting pitcher. Jon Lester has been in the rumor mill if they aren’t willing to part ways with the young talent it would take to get David Price.

I say that there is no takeaway though. Barney is a player who’s barely above replacement level. He gives the team enough depth that perhaps they don’t have to dip into the Turner/Triunfel/Rojas well again at second base. Beyond that, I don’t really have any expectations for this move. After this post, I will promptly go back to occupying my mind with other things.

Fellow Fansmanship founder, Luke Johnson, and I play a game sometimes: come up with the most random name of a player from the past. We text each other at times just as random as the player with just that player’s name — doesn’t matter the sport. Usually guys with unusual names are ones that come up first. Guys like Olden Polynice, Pat Listach, and Jeff Blauser are a few of the names that sometimes can be used. Kal Daniels, Gary Disarcina, Jay Buhner, Mickey Tettleton, Sid Fernandez… well, you get the idea.

I only mention it becuase, in about 10 years, Darwin Barney will be a name I’ll throw out there. For the win.