Dodgers sign Venable to 1-year deal
One day after officially cutting ties with Carl Crawford, the Los Angeles Dodgers supplemented the loss with another left-handed option off the bench, as the club announced the signing Tuesday of free-agent outfielder Will Venable to a one-year, major-league contract.
The signing comes just days after Venable opted out of his minor-league deal with the Phillies after slashing just .205/.304/.307 across 149 plate appearances for Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate. Venable also opted out of his minors contract with the Indians this spring in an effort to find a job in a major-league club.
Venable, 33, spent his entire career with the Padres before being acquired last season by Texas, where the nine-year veteran posted a .552 OPS with five steals in 37 games.
He'll likely serve as a left-handed option off the bench for manager Dave Roberts, having compiled a career OPS of .745 against right-handers versus just .610 when facing lefties.
Los Angeles has been in need of outfield depth following the release of Crawford and injuries to Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier. Puig began a rehab assignment Monday as he continues to make his way back from a hamstring injury, while Ethier remains sidelined after suffering a fractured leg during spring training.