The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a trade that will send left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Bronx, multiple league sources said. The AthleticI'm Ken Rosenthal. As part of the return, the Dodgers will acquire left-hander Matt Gage, who was released from waivers last week.according to athletic By Chris Kirshner, the Dodgers are also expected to acquire Christian Zazueta, a 19-year-old pitcher who was on the Yankees' Dominican Summer League team.
The move will fill the hole left by the Yankees with the departure of southpaw relief pitcher Wandy Peralta to San Diego. For the Dodgers, that would open up a 40-man roster spot that could be used if the team signs Clayton Kershaw or Ryan Blazer.
Who is Caleb Ferguson?
Ferguson, who turns 28 in July, has a 3.43 ERA in 201 career games. Last season, he appeared in 68 games with the Dodgers and had a 3.43 ERA, striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings and walking 3.4 per nine innings. He relies heavily on his four-seamer, which averages 96 mph, and his slider, which averages 86 mph.
Ferguson, who has one year of team control remaining before he becomes a free agent next offseason, hopes to team up with top options Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga and Tommy Kahnle, possibly with the Yankees. The back end of the bullpen will likely be a consideration. — Brendan Kuti, Yankees beat writer
Yankees bullpen situation
After losing Wandy Peralta to the San Diego Padres and Keiynan Middleton to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Yankees needed at least one more bullpen arm.
“We don't know what's going to happen between now and spring training,” Boone said Saturday. “(Peralta) is obviously a very valuable player for us, especially over the last two years, getting so many big outs and just dominating left-handed hitters. We got Victor Gonzalez. Moving forward. Let's see what we add to the mix. There will be opportunities for others to step up. Hopefully, there will be people you aren't even thinking about right now, and you'll have a chance to step up. will be an important part for us.
Like Peralta, Ferguson is a ground ball pitcher who limits hard contact. He finished in the 97th percentile in barrel rate last season. Additionally, Ferguson's 2.58 ERA starting in 2022 is the sixth-lowest among left-handed pitchers with at least 75 innings pitched.
Ferguson is the second left-handed relief pitcher the Yankees acquired from the Dodgers this offseason, following Gonzalez. The Yankees traded Gonzalez for infielder Trey Sweeney and infielder Jovit Vivas in December. — Chris Kirshner, Yankees beat writer
(Top photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
