The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced a trade, with the Yankees acquiring left-handed reliever Victor Gonzalez and minor league infield prospect Jorbit Vivas from the Dodgers. In exchange, the Dodgers will receive minor league infielder Trey Sweeney.
Gonzalez, 28, missed the 2022 season due to an elbow injury but has a solid MLB track record, making him a potential asset for the Yankees’ bullpen. He has logged 89 1/3 innings for the Dodgers from 2020-23, pitching to a 3.22 earned run average with solid strikeout and walk rates. The Yankees are also acquiring Vivas, a 22-year-old prospect who is considered one of the better prospects in the Dodgers farm system.
In exchange for Gonzalez and Vivas, the Yankees will surrender Sweeney, a well-regarded prospect who was selected with the No. 20 overall selection in the 2021 draft. Sweeney is a bat-first prospect whose long-term future hinges on his defensive versatility.
The trade clears a pair of spots on the Dodgers’ roster to accommodate the signings of Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly. This move is expected to benefit both teams by providing the Yankees with a quality reliever and prospect while giving the Dodgers a promising infield prospect in Sweeney.
The Yankees can control Gonzalez for an additional three seasons, and he is projected to have an affordable salary in 2024. This trade offers the Yankees a much-needed bullpen option at a fraction of the cost of re-signing free agent Wanda Peralta.
Overall, this trade is a strategic move for both teams, addressing their respective needs without breaking the bank. It will be interesting to see how Gonzalez and Vivas contribute to the Yankees and how Sweeney fits into the Dodgers’ plans moving forward.