Phillies send Victorino to Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies traded two-time All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Ethan Martin.

Philadelphia also gets a player to be named or cash for the 31-year-old Victorino, who can become a free agent after the season.

Victorino is batting .261 with nine homers, 40 RBIs and 24 steals. He helped the Phillies win five straight NL East titles and the 2008 World Series championship.

“We’re excited to add an All-Star caliber player with postseason experience,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. “He plays the game with passion, gives us a top of the order bat from both sides of the plate, can steal bases and is solid defensively in the outfield.”

Lindblom is 2-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Los Angeles. The 25-year-old righty has a 2.91 ERA in 75 career games.

Martin, a 23-year-old righty, was the Dodgers’ first round selection (15th overall) in the 2008 amateur draft. He’s 8-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 20 starts this season with Double-A Chattanooga.

Victorino returns to the team that selected in the sixth round of the 1999 draft. He was a Rule 5 selection by the Phillies in 2004 from the San Diego Padres.

The switch-hitting Victorino batted .279 with 181 doubles, 63 triples, 88 home runs, 390 RBIs and 179 stolen bases in eight years with the Phillies. In 46 postseason games, Victorino hit .269 with six homers and 30 RBIs. He was a three-time Gold Glove Award winner.

Trading the popular Victorino could be the first of several cost-cutting moves the last-place Phillies make before the 4 p.m. deadline for trades without waivers.

Under baseball’s new labor contract, the Dodgers will not receive a draft selection as compensation if Victorino signs elsewhere during the offseason.