Dodgers release outfielder Chris Heisey
Chris Heisey, left, started in place of Joc Pederson in center field for the Dodgers on June 7 during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Say this for the Dodgers’ new brain trust, they do not appear shy about admitting a gamble failed to pay off.
In the off-season they traded right-handed pitcher Matt Magill for outfielder Chris Heisey. The original thought was he could be a backup outfielder, versatile and fast enough to play all three positions.
Only it never worked out that way, and on Friday the Dodgers gave him his release.
Heisey, 30, has spent most of the last five years with the Cincinnati Reds, arriving with a .247/.265/.378 slash line. In 2011 he hit 18 home runs with 50 runs batted in in 308 at-bats.
After the trade with the Reds, Heisey avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $2.16-million deal with the Dodgers.
Whether because they were not anticipating Andre Ethier would bounce back or Heisey was just acquired as insurance, he never became a reliable roster piece.
He did not stand out in the spring and failed to make the club. He was called up twice early in the season, but hit only .154 with a .192 slugging percentage. He did walk eight times in 34 plate appearances to push his on-base percentage to .353.
Heisey spent most of the season at triple-A Oklahoma City where he hit .236, but with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs in 208 at-bats. The Dodgers had designated him for assignment July 30, needing space on the 40-man roster after completing the 13-player deal at the nonwaiver trading deadline.
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