The Dodgers have inked outfielder Will Venable to a one-year contract, per Jon Weisman of Dodger Insider. The club optioned outfielder Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Venable opted out of his minor league contract with the Phillies over the weekend after hitting .205/.304/.307 in 149 plate appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. However, as Weisman notes, the Dodgers lack a left-handed hitting outfielder after recently cutting ties with Carl Crawford.
The Dodgers owe Crawford the balance of his $20.75 million salary for the 2016 season and $21 million next year. Crawford compiled a meager .464 OPS in 87 plate appearances, so the organization must consider Venable a better player at this point despite a lackluster performance at Triple-A with the Phillies.