Dodgers deal for Mariners utility player Negron

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a trade with less than 48 hours left until the July 31 deadline. They obtained Kristopher Negrón from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league infielder Daniel Castro.

While it’s not the trade many Dodgers fanatics were hoping for, it comes right before Kiké Hernández is sent to the injured list. Negrón is a utility player who will likely fill in the middle infield role while the need is there.

It won’t be his first rodeo in the majors, as he’s played in six different MLB seasons with three different teams. In his major league career, he is batting .215 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs.

Negrón played 82 games with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers this year before his contract was selected by the Mariners on July 16. The 33-year-old slashed .310/.396/.503 in the minors this season.

The Seattle Mariners received Daniel Castro in the trade. Castro was completing his rehab assignment with the Arizona League Dodgers after spending a majority of the season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. He batted .241 in 45 games with OKC.

This trade is likely the foreshock of what the Dodgers front office will deliver before July 31 at 1 p.m. PDT.

Negron’s defensive versatility fits the Dodgers. He has logged more innings at shortstop than anywhere else in his career but has played every position besides catcher over the last three seasons. He would take the final spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.

The Dodgers didn’t have another shortstop on the 40-man roster. Castro and Drew Jackson were internal options. Both have major league experience but neither was knocking down the door to the majors. Instead, they seemingly filled the need with Negron to replace Hernandez on Monday.