Dodgers Get Proctor: Proceed to Invest in Fire Extinguishers

ESPN.com is reporting that the rumored trade between the Dodgers and Yankees has been finalized. Los Angeles will be shipping off IFer Wilson Betemit to New York for reliever Scott Proctor.

Proctor is generally known for two things: 1) being a victim of an evil plot by Joe “Jaws” Torre to slowly and elaborately blow up the shoulders of any decent reliever and 2) setting his equipment on fire in Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers were desperate for bullpen help and with the high price tags on arms such as Eric Gagne, Solomon Torres, Al Reyes, and Chad Cordero, the Dodgers went a step lower. One has to worry about Proctor’s arm, as only Jon Rauch and Matt Capps have entered more games since the start of 2006, and neither of them logged more innings over that same span.

The switch-hitting Betemit, on the other hand, should be a nice pick-up for the Yanks. Despite the fact that he’s batting .231 on the year, he makes up for it with a .359 OBP with good pop when he bats from the left side, which should be a plus with the short RF porch in Yankee Stadium. I always thought that on the right team Betemit would be a useful piece. We’ll see if the Yankees, who had been searching for a utility-infielder, can be that team.