September 16, 2024

Yankees land reliever Caleb Ferguson in trade with Dodgers

The Yankees’ search for bullpen help resulted in another trade with the Dodgers for a lefty reliever.

This time, it’s Caleb Ferguson, as The Post’s Jon Heyman reported.

The 27-year-old Ferguson is the second left-handed reliever the Yankees have acquired from Los Angeles this offseason, joining Victor Gonzalez.

As part of the exchange for Ferguson, the Yankees sent lefty Matt Gage to Los Angeles and right-hander Christian Zazueta, a 19-year-old right-hander who spent last season in the Dominican Summer League.

Gage was claimed off waivers from the Astros by the Yankees last month.

The trade of Ferguson opened up a roster spot for the Dodgers to sign reliever Ryan Brasier.

The additions of Ferguson and Gonzalez will help replace Wandy Peralta, who departed as a free agent for the San Diego Padres, as well as Michael King, also now in San Diego as part of the Juan Soto trade.

Ferguson is coming off a somewhat rocky season with the Dodgers, where he had a WHIP of 1.442 last year after a strong 2022 season following 2020 Tommy John surgery.

But the Yankees like his ability to induce ground balls and pitch in high leverage situations.

As of Monday, Ferguson and Gonzalez figure to be the two lefties in the pen for the Yankees.

Gonzalez came in a trade from the Dodgers, along with minor league utility infielder Jorbit Vivas in December, in exchange for infield prospect Trey Sweeney.

Higher-profile free-agent relievers have landed elsewhere this offseason, including Hector Neris, who went from the Astros to the Cubs and Phil Maton, who went from Houston to Tampa Bay, so the Yankees have opted for the trade route.

They also traded longtime outfield prospect Estevan Florial to Cleveland for right-hander Cody Morris and signed ex-Miami Marlin Cody Poteet, another righty, this offseason.

The new arrivals from Los Angeles are set to join a pen that includes closer Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, Tommy Kahnle and Ian Hamilton.

Ron Marinaccio, Luke Weaver and Scott Effross are other options, with Effross coming off 2022 Tommy John surgery following his arrival from the Cubs.

Like Gonzalez, though, Ferguson had slightly more success against right-handed hitters than lefties, as both lefty relievers held righty hitters to a lower OPS than lefties.

Ferguson, in his final year of arbitration-eligibility, is slated to make $2.4 million this season, with Gonzalez, in his first year of arbitration, at $860,000.

Diego Castillo’s busy offseason continued Monday, as the utility infielder was claimed off waivers from the Yankees by the Phillies.

He was first claimed by the Mets off waivers from the Diamondbacks and then went to the Yankees from the Mets on waivers before now heading to the Phillies.

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