Dodgers make trade to open roster spots for Shohei Ohtani, Joe Kelly
LOS ANGELES – There’s room now.
The Dodgers traded lefty reliever Victor Gonzalez and minor-league infielder Jorbit Vivas to the New York Yankees in exchange for Double-A infielder Trey Sweeney.
The deal opens up two spots on the 40-man roster spot to add free agents Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly. The Dodgers have reached contract agreements with both but could not make the signings official until there was room on the roster.
Gonzalez was signed on the same scouting trip during which the Dodgers signed Julio Urias but the Mexican native didn’t make his major-league debut until 2020. He emerged as a key piece of the Dodgers’ bullpen that season and was the winning pitcher in the clinching Game 6 of the World Series.
Gonzalez had a 3.57 ERA in 44 appearances for the Dodgers in 2021 but missed the 2022 season while recovering from elbow surgery and split last season between the majors and Triple-A, posting a 4.01 ERA with the Dodgers. He is eligible for salary arbitration this year.
Vivas, 22, was added to the 40-man roster two years ago and split the 2023 season between Double-A and Triple-A, batting .269 with 13 home runs and a .788 OPS while playing second base primarily.
Sweeney, 23, was the Yankees’ first-round draft pick out of Eastern Illinois in 2021. He spent last season at Double-A, batting .252 with 13 home runs, 20 stolen bases and a .777 OPS in 100 games (98 at shortstop).