Dodgers land Nolasco in trade
The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their starting pitching staff on Saturday night with the acquisition of right-hander Ricky Nolasco in a trade with the Miami Marlins.
In addition to Nolasco, the Dodgers also received the Marlins' No. 96 international signing slot worth $197,000 in exchange for minor league pitching prospects Steve Ames, Josh Wall and Angel Sanchez.
Nolasco, a southern California native who is the Marlins' career leader in wins, was elated to be going home.
"I'm definitely excited," Nolasco told MLB.com. "It's L.A., the team that I grew up going to the games as a kid and stuff. It's kind of surreal now, until I'm actually there. It will take time to sink in, but I'm definitely excited. My whole family couldn't be happier. I'll try to blend in as quickly as I can."
Nolasco, who also was being pursued by the San Francisco Giants, becomes a free agent after the season. He is in the final year of a three-year, $26.5 million contract and is making $11.5 million this season.
The 30-year-old Nolasco has a 5-8 record with a 3.85 ERA in 112 1/3 innings this year for the last-place Marlins. His 81 career wins in eight seasons are the most in franchise history.
The 23-year-old Sanchez is the the Dodgers' eighth-rated prospect, according to MLB.com. He was 2-7 with a 4.88 ERA for Class A Great Lakes before being promoted to high-Class A Rancho Cucamonga.
Wall, 26, has given up 14 runs in six relief appearances for the Dodgers this year. Ames, 25, is 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA for triple-A Albuquerque.
