Burnitz, Henderson headed to LA

[Louis Cypher]

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

LOS ANGELES -- Searching for a way to improve the lowest-scoring offense in the National League, the Dodgers on Monday acquired outfielder Jeromy Burnitz from the New York Mets in exchange for three minor leaguers and they signed 44-year-old future Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson out of an independent league.

Burnitz, 34, figures to replace left fielder Brian Jordan, who underwent season-ending knee surgery Friday. The Dodgers hope the left-handed hitting Burnitz, who averaged 34 home runs and 107 RBIs from 1998-2001 in Milwaukee, will jump-start an offense that is last in the National League in runs scored.

Burnitz is owned roughly $5 million, based on a $11.75 million salary. Los Angeles is believed to be picking up $2 million and the Mets $3 million. Burnitz also receives $500,000 from a clause triggered by the trade.

Burnitz has 18 home runs and 54 RBIs for the Mets while batting .274 this year, despite starting the season on the disabled list with a broken hand. He rebounded from a difficult first season in New York when he had 19 home runs and 54 RBIs while batting only .215.

"I feel great just to have the opportunity," Burnitz told MLB.com Monday evening. "It's a situation I've never been in and I'm looking forward to contributing to a contender. I'm sad about having to leave the guys and I'll miss them all. But this is something I've never done and I can't put it any more simply that I'm excited for the opportunity.

"I'm not really concerned about any adjustment period whatsoever. I'm looking forward to jumping into that lineup and executing the plan I've been using from my first pitch in a Dodger uniform. I'm just going to carry it into that first pitch I see, put a good swing on it and hope for good results. I'm looking forward to the experience of being on a contender. I've never been through it and I'm very excited for the opportunity."

Burnitz, who lives in San Diego, was also excited because the move will afford him the opportunity to spend more time with his family. Yet, he admits that he will miss New York because of what he learned last season when he struggled to a .215 batting average with 19 homers and 54 RBIs.

"It's hard for me to get real specific but I wouldn't trade my experience in New York for anything," Burnitz said. "It gave me something inside. My personal experience there is tough for me to define. I wasn't part of a contending team but they are the organization that drafted me.

"And with last year's struggles, I felt as bad as anyone. But to be able to come back and execute my job in way that has been productive for the team has been great. Last year's struggles as bad as felt being hurt, to be able to come back and to execute my job in a way that was productive to team. When you're struggling there, there's no hiding from anything in New York. To be exposed in a way through struggles, the whole experience gave me a lot inside and I wouldn't trade it for the world."

The Dodgers will send New York second baseman Victor Diaz, hitting .291 with 54 RBI in 86 games at Double-A Jacksonville; right-handed pitcher Joselo Diaz, 1-0 in only four games at Jacksonville after going 5-2 with a save and a 3.50 ERA in 15 games earlier this season for Class A Vero Beach; and right-handed pitcher Kole Strayhorn, who is 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA and nine saves at Single-A Vero Beach.

A key aspect of the deal for the third-place Dodgers, who trail San Francisco by 7 1/2 games at the All-Star Break, would be the addition of a bat without costing a Major League arm. The Dodger pitching staff has the lowest ERA in the Major Leagues.

The deal for the Mets was a continuation of shedding payroll that started last month with the trade of second baseman Roberto Alomar to the Chicago White Sox.

Henderson was hitting .339 with a .493 on-base percentage and a .591 slugging percentage for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League.

[sledge]

They can use the power......

[capt]

thid could be huge for l a if he can heat up

[Louis Cypher]

Rickey coming to town...what? Wasn't Mickey Rivers available?

LC

[timbo37]

This is why Dan Evans makes the big bucks.