Los Angeles Dodgers acquire Joel Peralta

Reliever Joel Peralta has been acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Mark Saxon at ESPN Los Angeles. The Dodgers’ bullpen was a substantial weakness in 2014. With a 4.41 ERA last season and a career mark of 3.92, Peralta is no pitching savior. He can still rack up strikeouts and eat innings, which gives him value as a sixth or seventh inning option.

To complete the swap, Adam Liberatore joined Peralta in heading to the Dodgers with Jose Dominguez and Greg Harris heading back to Tampa Bay. Andrew Friedman recently left his role within the Rays’ front office to become the president of baseball operations in Los Angeles. He has a certain familiarity and comfort with Peralta.

With prior poor investments in relievers Brian Wilson and Brandon League, Peralta is an economical fit for his new team. The Rays had exercised a $2.5 million option for Peralta prior to the deal. If he can make 60 appearances and sport an ERA of 3.50 or lower then the trade will be considered successful. If the baseball gods direct the 38-year-old towards the fountain of youth, perhaps it can even be considered a steal.

Liberatore, a 27-year-old left-hander, spent 2014 at Triple-A where he went 6-1 with a 1.66 ERA in 65 innings out of the bullpen.

Dominguez has made 14 appearances out of the Dodgers’ bullpen over the past two seasons with mixed results. Harris made 22 starts at Class-A, with a 4.45 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Both are right-handers.

The Dodgers’ bullpen won’t be fully revamped until a bigger turnover occurs. The addition of prized left-hander Andrew Miller would do wonders. Since Los Angeles has major money to spend, David Robertson would also make sense as a setup man for Kenley Jansen. Cheaper upgrades would include the likes of Luke Gregerson or Pat Neshek. The Peralta trade doesn’t significantly improve the Dodgers, but it should impact them in a positive manner.