Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joel Peralta gestures to the sky as he walks off the moundFRED THORNHILL/Reuters
Reliever Joel Peralta was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a four-player trade.
The deal is the first major move for Los Angeles since Andrew Friedman left the Rays to become president of baseball operations for the Dodgers.
Tampa Bay received right-handers Jose Dominguez and Greg Harris in the trade announced Thursday night, and the Dodgers also obtained left-hander Adam Liberatore.
Peralta, a 38-year-old right-hander, was 3-4 with a 4.41 ERA and one save in 69 games last season, when he struck out 74 in 63 1-3 innings. A 10-year major league veteran, he spent the last four seasons with the Rays after pitching for the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City, Colorado and Washington.
He joins a bullpen where Brian Wilson was the primary setup man for closer Kenley Jansen.
"Joel's significance to the Rays transcended his on-field performance. He was a clubhouse leader who always sought ways to make the organization better," said Matt Silverman, who succeeded Friedman as the Rays' president of baseball operations.
Tampa Bay had exercised Peralta's $2.5 million option for next season. The Dodgers inherit options for the same amount for 2016 and 2017.
The 24-year-old Dominguez made nine appearances for the Dodgers in 2013 and five this year. He also was 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA and 10 saves at Triple-A Albuquerque. Harris, 20, was 7-6 with a 4.45 ERA in 16 starts and six relief appearances at Class-A Great Lakes. Liberatore, 27, was 6-1 with a 1.66 ERA in 54 games at Triple-A Durham.
In other roster moves, Tampa Bay designated for assignment infielder Cole Figueroa, right-hander Michael Kohn and catcher Jose Molina. The Rays selected contracts from their minor league system of right-hander Matt Andriese, infielder Ryan Brett, left-hander Grayson Garvin, outfielder Mikie Mahtook and catcher Justin O'Conner.