The Dodgers acquired minor league outfielder Justin Ruggiano and cash considerations from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash or a player to be named later before the midnight waiver trade deadline Monday.
Ruggiano had appeared in 36 games for the Mariners this season, going 15-for-70 (.214) with two home runs and three stolen bases. He was outrighted to Triple-A in June and was not on the Mariners’ 40-man roster at the time of the trade.
Ruggiano, who can play all three outfield positions, had a .296/.385/.514 slash line in 49 games for the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate.
Ruggiano has played 434 major league games over parts of seven seasons with the Rays, Marlins, Cubs and Mariners.
When he was president in Tampa Bay, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman acquired Ruggiano from the Dodgers in July 2006. The 33-year-old outfielder was drafted by the Dodgers in 2004 and spent his first two professional seasons with the organization, advancing as high as Double-A.
The Dodgers acquired a similar journeyman outfielder who could play left, center and right prior to the season, but Chris Heisey didn’t work out and was released at midseason. Ruggiano could play a similar insurance-type role — a valuable one with Yasiel Puig and now Kiké Hernandez on the disabled list.