The Los Angeles Dodgers traded relief pitcher Vidal Nuño to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Minor League pitcher Ryan Moseley. The deal opens a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, which is expected to be filled by the signing of outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.
Los Angeles acquired Nuño last November in a trade that sent backup catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Seattle Mariners. Nuño was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 48th round of the 2009 Draft.
He then became a New York Yankees farmhand, and in July 2014 was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Brandon McCarthy. Nuño was dealt nearly one year later in the trade that sent Mark Trumbo from the Diamondbacks to the Mariners.
In 87 games (11 starts) over the past two seasons with Seattle, the veteran left-hander went 2-5 with a 3.85 ERA, 4.67 FIP and 1.31 WHIP.
Nuño allowed a career-worst 10.3 hits per nine innings last season, though offset it some regard by posting a career-high 4.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In addition, Nuño’s 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings was the third-best mark of his career.
The 29-year-old avoided arbitration with the Dodgers in January by agreeing to a one-year, $1.125 million contract. However, he figured to face an uphill battle in cracking the bullpen picture, considering the presence of fellow left-handers Grant Dayton and Adam Liberatore.
What may have worked in Nuño’s favor was versatility, as he’s started 42 games in his career and worked as a long reliever.
Moseley was selected by Andrew Friedman and the Tampa Bay Rays in the 36th round of the 2013 Draft out of high school. He elected to attend Texas Tech University, and was later drafted by the Orioles in the eighth round in 2016.
Moseley, a 22-year-old right-hander, appeared in 12 games with Low-A Aberdeen, going 0-1 with four saves, a 3.20 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19.2 innings.
