The New York Yankees’ bullpen is becoming a little more adorned.
The Yankees announced on Monday that they had acquired reliever Caleb Ferguson in a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In return for Ferguson, the Yankees will send Matt Gage, another left-handed reliever, and Christian Zazueta, a right-handed pitching prospect, back to the Dodgers.
Ferguson, 27, is an excellent acquisition for the Yankees. He has a 2.87 ERA and 10.1 K/9 over the last two seasons combined with the Dodgers. Ferguson possesses an excellent fastball-slider combo and has pitched in middle relief, setup roles, and even save situations.
Ferguson also won a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2020 (albeit he did not make the playoffs because his season ended in September due to Tommy John surgery). The Yankees recently missed out on another former champion reliever in free agency, but Ferguson is a talented trade acquisition.
Dodgers trade Caleb Ferguson to Yankees, ink Ryan Brasier
The Los Angeles Dodgers revamped their bullpen on Monday, sending left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the New York Yankees and signing right-hander Ryan Brasier to a two-year, $9 million contract.
Multiple sources have revealed that Brasier’s transaction is still pending physical completion. Once signed, Brasier would essentially replace Ferguson, who was acquired by the Yankees in exchange for lefty reliever Matt Gage and low-level pitching prospect Christian Zazueta Jr., and would join Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, and Joe Kelly as the Dodgers’ high-leverage relievers.
Brasier, 36, struggled with the Boston Red Sox for the first month and a half of the 2023 season, recording a 7.29 ERA in 20 appearances before being released. After joining the Dodgers in early June, he pitched brilliantly, introducing a cutter into his repertoire and allowing only three runs in 38â…” innings for the rest of the season.
Ferguson, 27, had a strong first season as a Dodgers reliever in 2023, posting a 3.43 ERA in 68 appearances, striking out 70 batters and walking 23 in 60â…“ innings. Ferguson joins Victor Gonzalez as former Dodgers left-handed relievers traded to the Yankees this offseason. Ferguson, entering his final year before free agency, is anticipated to be the Yankees’ primary lefty, joining righties Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, and Tommy Kahnle in the bullpen.
The Dodgers still need to make room on their 40-man roster for Brasier, whose contract, according to one source, could total $13 million with performance bonuses.
