Source: Marlins trade IF Ramirez to Dodgers

Updated: July 25, 2012, 3:23 AM ET

By Jerry Crasnick | ESPN.com

The Los Angeles Dodgers took advantage of the Miami Marlins' July selloff to add an impact bat early Wednesday morning, acquiring infielder Hanley Ramirez in a four-player trade, a baseball source told ESPN.com. The Dodgers acquired Ramirez and reliever Randy Choate from Miami for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and a minor leaguer, the source confirmed. Several reports have said the minor leaguer is Scott McGough, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher. Ramirez, 28, is a three-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year. He led big league shortstops with 124 home runs and a .521 slugging percentage from 2006 through 2010, but he's been a major disappointment over the past two seasons. Ramirez moved to third base this winter to accommodate free-agent addition Jose Reyes in Miami, but he's hitting only .246 with a .752 OPS for the Marlins. The Dodgers are hoping that Ramirez will be reinvigorated by a change of scenery and give them another run producer to complement Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in the batting order. The Dodgers rank 12th in the National League with 379 runs scored and are 13th in OPS at .684. Ramirez is making $15 million in the fourth year of a six-year, $70 million contract. He's scheduled to make $15.5 million in 2013 and $16 million in 2014. The Marlins recently decided to try to unload several veteran players and big salaries in the midst of a disappointing season. The Ramirez deal comes only a day after Miami traded pitcher Anibal Sanchez and infielder Omar Infante to the Detroit Tigers. The Marlins are reportedly weighing offers for pitchers Josh Johnson and Heath Bell, among others, in advance of next week's trade deadline.

Jerry Crasnick | email

ESPN.com MLB Sr. Writer

• ESPN.com senior writer
• Author of "License to Deal"
• Former Denver Post national baseball writer