Dodgers trade A.J. Ellis to Phillies for Carlos Ruiz
LOS ANGELES -- The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Carlos Ruiz from Philadelphia in a trade of backup catchers Thursday, getting a popular player with a world of postseason experience.
The Phillies also sent $1 million to the Dodgers for A.J. Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named or cash.
Couldn't ask for a better teammate or person in general than @AJEllis17. I'm genuinely happy to have had the opportunity to play with him.
— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) August 25, 2016
It's rare that a player can wholly embody a club's energy and ideals. Dodgers inside and outside the clubhouse walls will miss @AJEllis17
— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 25, 2016
The 37-year-old Ruiz was hitting .261 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 48 games, playing behind Cameron Rupp. Ruiz has done well lately, batting .340 (16 for 47) since the All-Star break.
Ruiz was an All-Star in 2012 and Phillies fans loved to call out his nickname -- "Chooch" -- when he delivered big hits. He got many of them for Philadelphia, batting .353 with two homers and five RBIs in 11 World Series games.
Thank you, Chooch.https://t.co/HMyRb1CN8d
— Phillies (@Phillies) August 25, 2016
Overall, Ruiz played 46 games in the postseason with the Phillies, helping them win five NL East crowns. Those titles came alongside former Philadelphia star Chase Utley, and this trade reunites them on the Dodgers.
The trade also leaves just aging slugger Ryan Howard in Philadelphia from the team that won the 2008 championship.
Ellis hit .194 with one homer and 13 RBIs this season as a backup to Yasmani Grandal.
The 35-year-old Ellis often caught Clayton Kershaw and was one of the Cy Young Award winner's best friends. Kershaw recently said the clubhouse chemistry on the Dodgers was the best he'd seen on any of his teams.
Like Ruiz, Ellis excelled in October and was a career .365 hitter in 17 postseason games.
Bergjans was 3-13 with a 4.98 ERA at Class A Rancho Cucamonga. The 23-year-old righty was an eighth-round draft pick in 2015 after playing for Haverford College in suburban Philadelphia.
