The Los Angeles Dodgers traded left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek to the Oakland Athletics for two prospects on Friday.
The A’s also acquired minor-league outfielder Cody Thomas in exchange for infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor-league right-handed pitcher Gus Varland in the deal.
Kolarek, 32, went 3-0 with an 0.95 ERA in 20 games last season. He also appeared in four postseason games, allowing five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings for the World Series champions. In 143 career games over four seasons for the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays, Kolarek is 11-3 with a 3.32 ERA.
Neuse, 26, is the key piece going to the Dodgers. Oakland’s No. 5 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Neuse could help pick up the slack at third base if Los Angeles doesn’t bring back free agent Justin Turner. Neuse appeared in 25 games for the A’s in 2019, hitting .250 with seven RBIs, but his trajectory was blocked by All-Star Matt Chapman at third base. He spent all of last season at the A’s alternate training site.
Varland, 24, was the A’s No. 28 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and in two minor league seasons he compiled a 2-2 record with a 1.54 ERA in 18 games (15 starts). He pitched at Single-A Stockton in 2019.
Thomas, 26, was ranked No. 29 on the Dodgers’ prospect list by MLB Pipeline. In four seasons in the minors he reached as high as Double-A, hitting .236 with a slugging percentage of .443 for the Tulsa Drillers in 2019.