Jim-Dandy Addition to Dodger Bench

The Dodgers finally got the guy they wanted on May 15, acquiring Jim Eisenreich in a blockbuster trade.

Of course, they also had to take Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla and Manuel Barrios to get the deal done.

But such is the cost of doing business with the Florida Marlins, who are trying to become the first major league franchise without a payroll.

“It feels good to be the key to the trade,” Eisenreich said, jokingly. “There aren’t a lot of 39-year-old guys who can say that.”

The Dodgers have coveted Eisenreich for several seasons, but he obviously isn’t the marquee player in the historic Mike Piazza transaction.

However, he is an important component to the seven-player transaction that sent Piazza--who has since been traded to the New York Mets--and Todd Zeile to Florida.

The versatile 13-year veteran, who plays the outfield and first base, is expected to fill many roles for the Dodgers, whose bench was an albatross for Manager Bill Russell last season.

Eisenreich has thrived as a part-time performer in Minnesota, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Florida. Three years after breaking in with the Twins, he retired to deal with his Tourette’s Syndrome. But after two years, the Royals claimed him from waivers.

Los Angeles has been added to his list of baseball addresses, and Eisenreich believes he can help improve his new neighborhood.

“I know I’m not a kid anymore, but I think I can still contribute,” said Eisenreich, who has a career .425 average against his new team.

“At this point in my career, being in a position to contribute to a winning team is the only thing that’s important to me. Nothing else really matters right now.”

Eisenreich will be given opportunities to make an impact, his new boss said.

“He’s a real valuable guy to have on your ballclub, because he doesn’t have to play every day to be productive,” Russell said. “You have to rely on your bench to contribute throughout the season, and you want to have guys there who can come through with big hits.

“He’s done that everywhere he’s been, and that gives [the manager] confidence in him [late in games]. And he also does a good job filling in [defensively], which you don’t mind either.”

Russell is using Eisenreich as his main left-handed pinch-hitter.

Eisenreich was the American League’s top pinch-hitter in 1992, batting .370 (10 for 27) with four RBIs while playing for the Kansas City Royals.

He also tied for the league lead among pinch-hitters with a .400 on-base percentage.

Last season, Eisenreich was the Marlins’ top pinch-hitter with a .286 (10 for 35) average and five RBIs.

He was batting .154 (two for 13) with a team-high three RBIs in that role before the recent trade. Overall, Eisenreich is batting .236 (17 for 72) with one homer and seven RBIs.

Eisenreich is considered among the game’s top part-time outfielders of the 1990s.

He has batted at least .280 in eight of the last nine seasons. Eisenreich has batted at least .300 five times during that span, including a career high .361 (122 for 338) in 1996 for the Philadelphia Phillies.

At 38, Eisenreich batted .280 (82 for 293) with 19 doubles, two home runs and 34 RBIs in 120 games as the Marlins won the 1997 World Series.

The addition of rookie Matt Luke, who also plays the outfield and first, had significantly improved the Dodger bench before the trade, players said.

But they also said Eisenreich brings intangibles that could provide the difference during the stretch run.

“When you look over at that bench, you want to see guys who have been there before,” said second baseman Eric Young.

“He’s been there, and that experience could be big for us. Adding that to our bench helps improve the whole team.”

That’s why the Dodgers gave up so much to get him.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Jim Eisenreich, Year by Year

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Year, Team AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG 1982, Minnesota 99 10 30 6 0 2 9 .303 1983, Minnesota 7 1 2 1 0 0 0 .286 1984, Minnesota 32 1 7 1 0 0 3 .219 1985--retired 1986--retired 1987, Kansas City 105 10 25 8 2 4 21 .238 1988, Kansas City 202 26 44 8 1 1 19 .218 1989, Kansas City 475 64 139 33 7 9 59 .293 1990, Kansas City 496 61 139 29 7 5 51 .280 1991, Kansas City 275 47 113 22 3 2 47 .301 1992, Kansas City 353 31 95 13 3 2 28 .269 1993, Philadelphia 362 51 115 17 4 7 54 .318 1994, Philadelphia 290 42 87 15 4 4 43 .300 1995, Philadelphia 377 46 119 22 2 10 55 .316 1996, Philadelphia 338 45 122 24 3 3 41 .361 1997, Florida 293 36 82 119 1 2 34 .280 1998, Florida-L.A. 72 9 17 1 0 1 7 .236 Totals 3,876 480 1,136 219 37 52 471 .293

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