Dodgers Trade for a Ray of Hope

The Dodgers, desperately trying to bolster a starting rotation and ease the burden on an overworked bullpen, acquired left-hander Mark Hendrickson on Tuesday in a trade that General Manager Ned Colletti said was just his first move to improve the pitching staff.

“In my mind, we’re not finished yet,” Colletti said.

The Dodgers sent catcher Dioner Navarro, pitcher Jae Seo and a minor leaguer to be named to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall, and $1 million to help pay their salaries.

Hall, the Devil Rays’ starting catcher for the last four years, will back up Russell Martin, reducing Sandy Alomar Jr. to a pinch-hitter. The Dodgers also put pitcher Brett Tomko on the disabled list because of the strained side muscle he suffered in his last start, an injury that Colletti said made it “a priority to make a move sooner rather than later.”

Hendrickson, 32, is 6 feet 9 and played four seasons in the NBA before becoming a full-time baseball player in 2001. He’ll make his Dodgers debut Saturday against the Angels.

“I’m excited,” he said. “In 10 years of professional sports, this is the first time I’ve really been on a team that had a chance to win it all.”

How much he can contribute toward a pennant push depends upon whether he is a late bloomer or just a guy on a hot streak. He is 4-8 with a 3.81 earned-run average this season, but he had a 5.90 ERA last season and his career ERA is 5.01.

“I feel like I’m starting to come into my own as a pitcher,” he said.

The Devil Rays play under a dome, on artificial turf. Colletti noted Hendrickson’s success on grass (2.09 ERA) and in holding opponents to a .241 average overall, but over the previous three seasons he had a 5.75 ERA on grass, with opponents hitting .304 off him.

In recent starts, Colletti said, Dodgers scouts noted improvements in his curve, changeup and command and a tendency to pitch deep into games. In all five starts this month, he has pitched into the seventh inning.

With Dodgers starters besides Derek Lowe and Brad Penny unable to pitch deep into games, the Dodgers bullpen leads the major leagues in losses. Colletti said he wants to trade for a reliever, or another starter.

“Our bullpen is holding together right now,” Colletti said, “but it’s been tested over and over by five-inning starts and six-inning starts.”

Hall, 30, is hitting .231 in 64 games, with eight home runs. He is making $2.25 million this season and Hendrickson $1.95 million, with Seo at $350,000 and Navarro $332,000.

Hall is eligible for free agency after next season, Hendrickson after the 2008 season.

The Devil Rays considered not tendering Hall a contract last winter and pursued Navarro, trying to acquire him in what would have been a three-way trade with the Dodgers and New York Mets. Instead, the Dodgers traded relievers Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll to the Mets for Seo and reliever Tim Hamulack.

Navarro, 22, opened the season as the Dodgers’ catcher. He hit .280 in 25 games but did not throw out any of 16 runners trying to steal. He went on the disabled list in May because of a badly bruised wrist, and in his absence Martin won the job.

Seo, 29, went 2-4 with a 5.78 ERA and had been moved from the rotation to the bullpen. Hamulack opened the season in Los Angeles but since has been sent to the minors.

“Not every trade you make is going to work out,” Colletti said.