Dusty Baker Traded to A’s for Two Minor Leaguers

The Oakland A’s, saying they needed a strong right-handed hitter, acquired former Dodger Dusty Baker from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for two minor league players, it was announced Sunday.

Baker, 35, has a lifetime .280 average in a major league career that began in 1968. He had been signed before the 1984 season by San Francisco and hit .292 with 3 home runs and 32 runs batted in during 100 games, although he was hampered by a pulled hamstring throughout the season.

Baker, primarily an outfielder, had played sparingly for the Giants this spring. But he will get a chance to play first base and in the outfield with Oakland, A’s Manager Jackie Moore said.

“He gives us a right-handed bat we’ve been looking for. He could protect Dave Kingman (the A’s cleanup hitter) and give him better pitches to hit,” Moore said.

“We want to mix him into our lineup, in right field, left field and first base, once he gets some work there,” he said.

In exchange for Baker, Oakland sent San Francisco left-handed pitcher Edmund Puikunas and catcher Dan Winters. They both played for Medford, Ore., in the rookie Northwest League and were A’s draft choices last June.