Yankees get second left-handed reliever from Dodgers by acquiring Caleb Ferguson

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees acquired a left-handed reliever from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second time this offseason, getting Caleb Ferguson in exchange for pitchers Matt Gage and Christian Zazueta on Monday.

The 27-year-old Ferguson was 7-4 with three saves and a 3.43 ERA in 61 relief appearances and seven starts last year, setting career highs with 60 1/3 innings and 70 strikeouts while walking 23. His fastball average velocity dropped 1.9 mph to 92.9 mph.

New York obtained 28-year-old Victor González from the Dodgers in December. The Yankees were seeking lefties after Wandy Peralta became a free agent.

Ferguson was 18-9 with five saves and a 3.43 ERA for the Dodgers from 2018-23. He had Tommy John surgery in September 2020 and returned to the mound in 2022, when he rejoined the Dodgers in mid-May and went 1-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 36 relief appearances and one start.

Ferguson avoided arbitration by reaching a $2.4 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers. He can become a free agent after this year's World Series.

Gage, a 30-year-old left-hander, had a 2.70 ERA in five relief appearance with Houston last year in May and June and was 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 34 relief appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land.

Gage was designated for assignment by the Astros on Jan. 22 when Houston needed to open a roster spot for reliever Josh Hader and Gage was claimed by the Yankees seven days later.

Gage made his big league debut with Toronto in 2022 and was 0-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 11 relief appearances.

Zazueta, a 19-year-old right-hander, was 3-2 with a 3.29 ERA last year in 12 starts for the Dominican Summer League Yankees and is 3-5 with a 4.54 ERA in two professional seasons.

In addition, Philadelphia claimed infielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the Yankees. Castillo was claimed off waivers on Jan. 19 from the Mets, who claimed Castillo from Arizona on Jan. 5, then was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Jan. 29.

Castillo played in his only big league game of 2023 on July 31 for Arizona against San Francisco and hit .313 with 33 doubles, three homers, 72 RBIs and 97 walks at Triple-A Reno.

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