Dodgers give Kevin Kiermaier one more shot in the playoffs before retirement

One of the best defensive baseball players of his generation, Kevin Kiermaier spent the vast majority of his playing career on the Rays before suiting up for the Blue Jays in each of the past two seasons.

The 12-year veteran impressed offensively last year while continuing to boast one of the best defensive skillsets in recent memory. At this year's trade deadline, Kiermaier was one of many roster casualties from the Jays. The club traded every single player on expiring contracts, which included KK.

He had been hitting just .195 before the trade, so it was clear that any team landing him in a trade would be one that's looking for his defensive chops. Even before being traded to the Dodgers, they felt like the best fit, as they had received below-average defensive play from the likes of James Outman, Enrique Hernandez and Andy Pages. Their offensive unit was one of the best, but they needed help on the other side of the ball.

Sure enough, Los Angeles flipped left-handed swingman Ryan Yarbrough to the Jays in exchange for Kiermaier. All along, the plan was for him to serve as nothing more but a strong-gloved option to toss out in center field. Any above-average offensive production was going to be a bonus.

The Dodgers may not have gotten any of that offensive help from Kiermaier (.203 AVG in 34 games), but he continued to serve an important purpose in the outfield. He did not appear on the club's NLDS roster, but he is now being added to their NLCS roster for the upcoming series against the Mets.

Kiermaier will be replacing shortstop Miguel Rojas, while relief pitcher Brent Honeywell will take the spot of left-hander Alex Vesia.

Getting Kiermaier another shot at a ring was a big talking point with the Blue Jays as the deadline neared. There was little to no point in keeping him around in Toronto if he was just going to be a slick fielder on a bad team that'd sail into retirement with nothing to show for it.

The Dodgers are going to give Kiermaier what could be one last shot in the playoffs. Since he appeared in a regular-season game for them this year, he'll earn a World Series ring either way, but being able to be an actual producer in the game(s) will make it mean more. If any Blue Jays fans are looking for a team to root for, it's got to be the one with Kiermaier and popular slugger Teoscar Hernandez in tow.