Yankees get second left-handed reliever from Dodgers by acquiring Caleb Ferguson

NEW YORK Pitchers Matt Gage and Christian Zazueta were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Caleb Ferguson, the team’s second offseason acquisition of a left-handed reliever.

In 61 relief appearances and seven starts last year, the 27-year-old Ferguson went 7-4 with three saves and a 3.43 ERA,

setting career highs with 60 1/3 innings pitched, 70 strikeouts, and 23 walks. His

average fastball speed decreased to 92.9 mph from 1.9 mph.

Victor González, 28, was acquired by New York from the Dodgers in

December. After Wandy Peralta became a free agent, the Yankees started looking for lefties.

Ferguson was 18-9 for the Dodgers from 2018 to 23 with five saves and a 3.43 ERA. Following Tommy John surgery in September 2020, he was back on the mound by mid-May 2022 when he was re-acquired by the Dodgers. In 36 relief appearances and one start, he was 1-0 with a 1.82 ERA.

Ferguson and the Dodgers came to an agreement on a one-year, $2.4 million contract, avoiding arbitration. When the World Series is over this year, he can become a free agent.

The 30-year-old left-hander Gage was 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 34 relief appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land last year and had a 2.70 ERA in five outings with Houston in May and June.

When the Astros needed to make room on the roster for reliever Josh Hader on January 22, they designated Gage for assignment. Seven days later, the Yankees claimed Gage.

In 11 bullpen appearances after making his major league debut with Toronto in 2022, Gage went 0-1 with a 1.38 ERA.

The 19-year-old right-hander Zazueta is 3-5 with a 4.54 ERA in his two professional seasons. Last year, he was 3-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 12 starts for the Dominican Summer League Yankees.