The Dodgers acquired left-handed reliever Scott Alexander in a three-team trade with the White Sox and Royals on Thursday.
As part of the deal, the Dodgers sent left-handed reliever Luis Avilan to Chicago and right-hander Trevor Oaks and Minor League infielder Erick Mejia to Kansas City. The White Sox also received right-handed reliever Joakim Soria from the Royals, as well as cash considerations from Los Angeles and Kansas City.
Alexander, a 28-year-old ground-ball specialist, is expected to fill a role similar to the one left-hander Tony Watson, now a free agent, had in 2017. Alexander logged a 2.48 ERA over 69 innings with the Royals in 2017 while posting the second-highest ground-ball rate (73.3 percent) among qualified Major League relievers, behind only Zach Britton. He will not hit free agency until 2023 and is not eligible for arbitration until 2020. Alexander's affordability is key for the Dodgers as they aim to stay under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.
The Dodgers also received Minor League infielder Jake Peter from the White Sox in the trade. Peter, 24, batted .279 with a .761 OPS and 13 home runs in 120 games between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2017. Peter played second and third base as well as the corner outfield last year. He debuts at No. 30 among the Dodgers' top prospects, per MLB Pipeline.
Avilan, 28, posted a 2.93 ERA over 46 innings in 2017, his third season with the Dodgers, and is entering his second year of arbitration.
Oaks, 24, recorded a 3.64 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City last season. He was ranked the Dodgers' No. 14 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Mejia, 23, spent most of the 2017 season with Double-A Tulsa, batting .289 with a .770 OPS, seven home runs and 25 stolen bases in 102 games. He played second base, third base and shortstop for Tulsa last year.