LA nets prospect Cleavinger in 3-team trade

December 29th, 2020

The Dodgers acquired left-handed pitcher from the Phillies on Tuesday as part of a three-way trade, which also included the Rays. Los Angeles sent Minor League first baseman Dillon Paulson and a player to be named or cash considerations to Tampa Bay, which shipped left-hander José Alvarado to Philadelphia.

Cleavinger has made one Major League appearance, against the Mets on Sept. 17, when he gave up one run in two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen but flashed a fastball that reached 95 mph. The 26-year-old was the Orioles’ third-round pick in the 2015 Draft out of the University of Oregon, and he was traded to the Phillies before the 2017 Trade Deadline. He spent all of ‘19 at Double-A Reading, making 34 relief appearances and posting a 3.66 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 34 walks in 51 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers selected Paulson in the 13th round of the 2018 Draft out of University of Southern California. A 23-year-old left-handed hitter, he split 2019 between Class A Great Lakes and Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga while starting a combined 105 games at first base. Between those two stints, Paulson hit .243/.366/.433 with 16 homers, 64 RBIs, 82 walks and 133 strikeouts.