Major League Baseball

Dodgers acquire utility man Schumaker

Published Dec. 11, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their busy offseason, acquiring infielder/outfielder Skip Schumaker from the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Jake Lemmerman, a minor league shortstop and second baseman, is going to the Cardinals in the trade.

In Schumaker, 32, the Dodgers are adding a native of Southern California whose versatility was valued by longtime Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. Schumaker, who won a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011, has a respectable .722 OPS in his career and played four positions — second base and all three outfield spots — for St. Louis this year.

The Dodgers figure to have fierce competition for bench roles on their loaded roster, among Schumaker, Nick Punto, Jerry Hairston, Dee Gordon, Juan Uribe, Elian Herrera and Scott Van Slyke. Luis Cruz is the incumbent at third base, but it’s possible he could fall into a reserve job if the Dodgers acquire a third baseman from outside the organization.

The Dodgers are on track to boast the largest payroll in baseball during the coming season — at more than $200 million — after announcing Zack Greinke’s six-year, $147 million contract Tuesday.

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