Dodgers Trade for Skip Schumaker

The Dodgers have reportedly traded minor league infielder Jake Lemmerman to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Skip Schumaker. The trade comes after the feel good buzz from the Zack Greinke press conference is still aglow. Ned Colletti has been saying all along during this offseason that he was looking for a fourth outfielder, more depth for the infield, and a left-handed bat off the bench. Skip Schumaker seems to fit the bill in all three of these categories.

Jake Lemmerman, a 23-year old right-hand hitting infielder, was drafted by the Dodgers in the 5th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft out of Duke University. He played 116 games with the AA-Chattanooga Lookouts last season where he hit .233 with 7 homeruns and 46 RBIs. He struck out 94 times, but he also had 53 walks. He’s mostly played shortstop in the Dodgers’ minor league system, but last year he played 28 games at second base and one game at third base.

Sept.13, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon (9) is out at second on a steal attempt as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker (55) tags him out at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Skip Schumaker is a 32-year old Torrance, California native who was drafted out of the University of California, Santa Barbara in the 5th round of the 2001 MLB draft by the Cardinals. Skip has played the  last eight seasons with St. Louis where he’s accumulated a .288/.345/.377 line, and he has hit right-handed pitching to a tune of .305. Last season with the Red Birds, he finished with a .276 batting average and 1 homerun and 28 RBIs in 107 games. He was beginning to lose playing time to Daniel Descalso. He has played mostly second base, but he can also play all three outfield positions including center field which makes him very versatile.

Schumaker has one year left on his contract which is good for $1.5 million in 2013. The deal will be finalized pending a physical. The Dodgers will need to make a

Skip Schumaker gives the Dodgers a much needed left-hander off the bench. Photo: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

corresponding roster move to clear a spot for him on the 40-man roster.

The good news is that Schumaker is better than let’s say Adam Kennedy, but the bad news is that Juan Uribe remains on the team.