San Francisco, CA – The Los Angeles Dodgers made a move to fortify their starting rotation, acquiring veteran right-hander Ricky Nolasco from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three minor league pitchers.
The rebuilding Marlins will receive Triple-A hurlers Josh Wall and Steven Ames as well as right-hander Angel Sanchez, while also sending the Dodgers their fourth-round slot (No. 96 overall) in the international bonus pool.
Nolasco, the Marlins' all-time leader in wins and strikeouts, had been the lone remaining high-salaried member of a Miami team that drastically cut its payroll during the offseason and is slated for free agency at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign. He provides the Dodgers with an experienced and durable arm for the club's chase to capture the NL West title, having started at least 26 games in each of the previous five years and posting double-digit victories in all of those seasons.
The 30-year-old has gone just 5-8 for the NL East cellar-dwelling Marlins in 2013, but has posted a respectable 3.85 earned run average and is coming off a strong last start in which he held Atlanta to two runs while striking out seven over seven innings in a 6-3 triumph over the Braves on Wednesday.
Nolasco had spent his entire eight-year tenure in the majors with the Marlins, compiling an 81-72 record with a 4.44 ERA over 213 appearances (197 starts) since breaking into the big leagues in 2006.
He joins a Los Angeles staff that has had its depth tested by injuries this season, with Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly all currently on the disabled list.
Wall pitched in 13 games out of the bullpen for the Dodgers over parts of the last two seasons but has allowed 17 runs over 12 2/3 innings at the major league level. The 26-year-old was 1-2 with a 5.80 ERA in 25 games for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Ames, 25, has spent the entire season at Albuquerque and registered a 2-2 record with a 3.67 ERA and eight saves with the Isotopes.
Sanchez went 2-7 with a 4.67 ERA over 15 starts and one relief outing between Low-A Great Lakes and High-A Rancho Cucamonga. The 23-year-old Dominican was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent in July of 2010.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.