Major League Baseball

Dodgers trade Harang for catcher

Published Apr. 6, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Ken Rosenthal

The Rockies acquired a starting pitcher on Saturday — one they have no intention of keeping.

The trade of catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Dodgers for right-hander Aaron Harang is the prelude to a second move for Colorado.

The Rockies immediately designated Harang for assignment. They have 10 days to trade, release or send him outright to the minors. Vice president of baseball operations Bill Geivett said Colorado will attempt to move Harang and get back something in return.

For the Dodgers, the acquisition of Hernandez gives them protection in the event of an injury to one of their two current catchers, A.J Ellis and Tim Federowicz.

The trade of Harang, who is earning $7 million this season, also alleviated the Dodgers' logjam of starting pitchers.

The Rockies received $4.25 million from the Dodgers in the deal, according to CBSSports.com. Hernandez is earning $3.2 million.

Harang hadn't appeared in a game for the Dodgers this season. He was 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA in 31 starts last year. The right-hander is 105-104 with a 4.19 ERA in 11 seasons with Oakland, Cincinnati, San Diego and the Dodgers.

Hernandez has a career average of .264 with 166 home runs, 751 RBI and 1,335 hits during his 14-year career with Oakland, San Diego, Baltimore, Cincinnati and the Rockies. Colorado, which owed him $3.2 million, designated him for assignment on March 29.

The 36-year-old catcher was an All-Star in 2003 and averaged 118 games behind the plate from 2000-11. Among active players, only A.J. Pierzynski has caught more games and more innings than Hernandez, who has caught nearly 12,000 innings during his career.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.