Out of the Blue - Los Angeles Times
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Out of the Blue

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The Dodgers began a major shakeup of the roster, sending three key players to Florida, with more deals expected to be in the works before today’s 1 p.m. non-waiver trading deadline:

GOING ...

PAUL LO DUCA

* A starter since 2001, he had been the most popular Dodger, along with Eric Gagne. The All-Star was also a clubhouse leader and a .300-hitting catcher.

GUILLERMO MOTA

* One of the most highly sought-after players around the league, Mota had been almost automatic as Gagne’s setup man, a job that will now fall to Darren Dreifort.

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J. ENCARNACION

* His power numbers weren’t bad (13 homers, 43 RBIs), but he was batting only .235. Encarnacion returns to Florida, where he won a World Series last year.

*

COMING ...

BRAD PENNY

* The hard-throwing right-hander is big (6-4, 250) and young (26). He’s only 8-8 this year, but his ERA is 3.15, and he went 2-0 in the World Series last year.

HEE SEOP CHOI

* Touted as a phenom in Chicago, the first baseman is batting .270 with 15 homers and 40 RBIs in his first season with the Marlins after being acquired from the Cubs.

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BILL MURPHY

* Murphy, a left-handed reliever, represented the Marlins at the All-Star Futures Game. He was drafted by Oakland ... when Paul DePodesta was there.

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IN THE WINGS

RANDY JOHNSON

* He has five Cy Young Awards, more than 4,000 strikeouts and a perfect game, but the Big Unit reportedly didn’t want to come to Los Angeles.

STEVE FINLEY

* On the plus side, he would be a solid defensive addition and he has 23 home runs. On the minus side, he is 39 and it probably would be the end of Jayson Werth’s L.A. career.

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CHARLES JOHNSON

* The Dodgers got him once in another deal for a catcher, someone named Piazza. Now Johnson must decide if he wants to waive his no-trade clause and leave Colorado.

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