SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-hander Ricky Nolasco from the Miami Marlins on Saturday in exchange for three minor league pitchers.
The Dodgers sent Steven Ames, Josh Wall and Angel Sanchez to Miami in the deal. Los Angeles also received international signing bonus slot No. 96, which is valued at $197,000.
Nolasco made 18 starts for the Marlins this season, going 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA. The 30-year-old Southern California native is 81-72 with a 4.44 ERA in 213 games (197 starts) over eight seasons.
Nolasco was raised in Corona, and attended Rialto High School. The Chicago Cubs originally selected Nolasco in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. He was acquired by the Marlins in 2005 and had been one of the most reliable arms for one of the majors' most frugal franchises ever since.
The Dodgers were playing at San Francisco on Saturday night. The Giants reportedly were interested in Nolasco, but instead watched their big-spending NL West rival swipe another commodity away.
With Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu entrenched as starters, the Dodgers didn't need a new No. 1 pitcher. But Nolasco's addition should ease the absences of Josh Beckett (left groin strain) and Chad Billingsley (right elbow pain) at the back end of the rotation as Los Angeles looks to make a playoff push.
The Marlins got back what they covet most: prospects with small salaries and potential, albeit not the most coveted ones in the Dodgers' farm system.
The 26-year-old Wall went 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA in six relief appearances for the Dodgers this season. He is 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in 25 games for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Ames, 25, was 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA in 30 appearances for Albuquerque this year. Sanchez, 23, is a combined 2-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) with Single-A Great Lakes and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
