Dodgers close to acquiring Skip Schumaker

The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals which will send utility player Skip Schumaker to Los Angeles.

According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Dodgers will acquire Schumaker in exchange for a minor-league prospect. The deal is pending Schumaker passing a physical which he is scheduled to undergo Wednesday morning. Schumaker will likely play a backup role in both the infield and outfield for Los Angeles.

The agreed upon deal comes only a few days after reports surfaced that the Cardinals were shopping Schumaker in trades. Los Angeles and St. Louis reportedly discussed a deal during the winter meetings. Schumaker entered last season as the Cardinals starting second baseman, but later lost that job and had an uncertain future in St. Louis heading into next season.

Schumaker hit .276 last season but has a career batting average of .288. In Los Angeles he will be reunited with hitting coach Mark McGwire. The two worked together in St. Louis and McGwire also served as Schumaker's personal hitting coach in previous offseasons.