Hanley Ramirez to Dodgers: Star Shortstop Will Bolster Lineup for Playoff Push

The addition of star shortstop Hanley Ramirez via trade (per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports) will bolster the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup and give them a better chance to make the postseason in the National League.

"

BREAKING NEWS: #Dodgers agree on trade to acquire Hanley Ramirez from #Marlins, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me. @MLBONFOX

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 25, 2012"

Ramirez will better off in Los Angeles on a Dodgers team that is actually fighting for a playoff spot, unlike the Miami Marlins, who are normally in fourth or fifth place in the NL East division.

Being in the midst of a pennant race will be wonderful for Ramirez, who is one of the brightest young players in baseball.

He's struggling a bit this season, and is only batting .246 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI, which aren't numbers you would expect from a player of his caliber.

However, there's little reason to believe he won't turn his season around when he arrives in Southern California. He'll be on a new team with a great lineup that is fighting for the division crown and will play meaningful games the rest of the season.

The Dodgers' lineup definitely needs a boost from a player like Ramirez. Check out where Los Angeles ranks in some important batting categories among NL teams.

Stat	BA	HR	R	H
Rank	10th	16th	12th	10th

In a 16-team National League, the Dodgers are in the bottom half of most hitting categories, yet only find themselves 2.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West and a half-game out of a wild card spot.

Ramirez will give the Dodgers the offensive upgrade they need to make a strong push toward the playoffs. Los Angeles has done well this season to contend for a playoff spot despite not hitting well and dealing with injuries to key players such as Matt Kemp.

In a better situation and with something meaningful to play for, Ramirez will have plenty of motivation to dominate in the Dodgers lineup and lead the team to a division crown.

This was a fantastic trade for the Dodgers, and will certainly help their offense get back on track at the right time.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, follow him on Twitter.