The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers added to their infield depth on Sunday, getting Ronnie Belliard from the Washington Nationals for a minor leaguer and a player to be named.
The Dodgers sent Class A pitcher Luis Garcia to the Nationals.
The 34-year-old Belliard batted .246 with five homers and 22 RBIs for Washington. He'll join the Dodgers in Los Angeles before their game Monday against Arizona, making him eligible for postseason play.
"He gives us some offense," manager Joe Torre said. "He can play around the infield, probably all positions but shortstop. It gives me the ability to spell these guys. He gives us a little more depth with experience coming off the bench."
Belliard started at second base for St. Louis during its 2006 World Series championship, batting .240 with four RBIs during the playoffs. The Dodgers will have to make a roster move to open a spot for him on Monday.
"It's a compliment," Belliard said, after the Cardinals beat the Nationals 2-1 in St. Louis to complete a three-game sweep. "Now I have a chance to win another one. I helped the Cardinals in 2006 witih my defense and some lucky hits that I got in the playoffs. Hopefully I can do that in LA. That's why they traded for me."
The Cardinals got Belliard in July 2006. During a playoff series against San Diego, he went 6 for 13. He went 0 for 12 in three World Series games.
Nationals manager Jim Riggleman wasn't surprised that Belliard drew the interest of a contending team.
"We've played pretty good baseball since the All-Star break, and he's been a part of that," Riggleman said. "On the other side of it, we get to keep an infusion of young players coming in and Ronnie gets to go play in a pennant race. Ronnie's play since the All-Star break has been noticed by scouts and so forth, and they identified him as a guy who could help them down the stretch."
Garcia is a 22-year-old right-hander who went 5-3 with five saves and a 2.92 ERA in 34 appearances for Class A Great Lakes.
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AP Sports Writer R.B. Fallstrom in St. Louis contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009  AP News
