Yankees Trade for Caleb Ferguson; Dodgers Get Matt Gage, Christian Zazueta Jr.

The New York Yankees acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in exchange for left-handed pitcher Matt Gage and right-handed pitcher Christian Zazueta Jr.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman first reported the deal.

Ferguson, 27, went 7-4 for the Dodgers last season in 68 total appearances and seven starts across 60.1 innings, notching 70 strikeouts with a 3.43 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He was even better in 2022, posting a 1.82 ERA in 37 innings.

One concern long-term may be durability, as Ferguson needed Tommy John surgery in 2020 and missed the 2021 campaign. It hasn't hindered him in the past two seasons, however, when he was a reliable option for the Dodgers.

The Yankees, meanwhile, have tapped the Dodgers for pitching reinforcements this winter, also landing Victor González from Los Angeles in a December trade to bolster the bullpen. He posted a 4.01 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 34 appearances in 2023.

For the Yankees, adding the pair of lefties for the bullpen will soften the blow of losing Wandy Peralta, who signed with the San Diego Padres last week on a four-year, $16.5 million deal.

As for the Dodgers, the 31-year-old Gage has just 16 MLB appearances to his name in the past two seasons for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays, posting a 1.83 ERA across 19.2 innings.

More than likely, though, the trade was about creating another spot on the 40-man roster after reportedly signing righty reliever Ryan Brasier to a two-year, $9 million contract. The 36-year-old was excellent for the Dodgers after being acquired in June, notching a 0.70 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in 39 games out of the bullpen.