The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have acquired two-time World Series champion and former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, along with cash considerations, in exchange for middle-infielder Josh Rutledge.
Today the #Angels have acquired OF Shane Victorino and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for INF Josh Rutledge.
— Angels (@Angels) July 27, 2015
Shane Victorino's Career Statistics
Victorino, 34, has been sidelined for most of the past two seasons with injuries. Since batting .294/.351/.451 for the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, the "Flyin' Hawaiian" has since combined for only three home runs and 16 runs-batted-in in 63 games over the past two seasons.
Rutledge, 26, was originally acquired by Los Angeles from Colorado on December 11, sending right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz to the Rockies. Rutledge had not made a major-league appearance this season for the Angels, as was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on April 4.
Drafted in the third round of the 2010 amateur draft, Rutledge has 42 doubles, 13 triples, 19 home runs, 89 runs-batted-in over 266 career games spanning 2012-2014. He has 21 stolen bases out of 24 attempts, and has struck out 199 times over 947 career plate-appearances.
The Angels were previously rumored to have interest in Phillies' outfielder Ben Revere.
Our own Frank Klose (@PhilliesFrank) writes:
The Angels had been looking for outfield help for some time.
Earlier in the month a report suggested that the Phillies felt they were close to a deal that would trade outfielder Ben Revere to the Angels. Now that the Angels have Victorino, the former Phillies center fielder will likely mean that the Angels no longer have a need for their current center fielder. The Angels and Pirates have been linked to Revere in the past, but with the Pirates acquiring Aramis Ramirez to play third base, the Pirates probably are not interested either, since Josh Harrison can play some outfield when he returns from the disabled list.
It is possible that acquiring Victorino has eliminated their interest in Revere, who led the National League last season in hits. Although at this point, it's seemingly a toss-up who has more power considering Victorino's recent decline due to health woes.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports believes the Angels could still use Revere on their team, however:
angels still seek a lefty hitting OF. victorino acquisition was for depth purposes. bruce, murphy, revere are names linked.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 28, 2015
Victorino still has approximately $5 million left on his $13 million 2015 salary. Rutledge, who will earn a total of $527,500 this season, is arbitration eligible from 2016-18, and doesn't become a free agent until 2019.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
