The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired outfielder Esteury Ruiz from the Athletics in exchange for minor league right-hander Carlos Duran, the team announced Wednesday. Ruiz, who was designated for assignment by the Athletics three days earlier, will be optioned to the Dodgers\' Triple-A affiliate.
Ruiz, 26, led the American League with 67 stolen bases in 2023 while posting a .254/.309/.345 slash line with five home runs in 132 games. His 2024 season was plagued by injuries, including a left wrist issue that sidelined him for nearly seven weeks and a right knee that required arthroscopic surgery in late September. He appeared in just 29 major league games last season, posting a .652 OPS.
The Athletics moved on from Ruiz following the emergence of Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday in their outfield. In return, Oakland receives Duran, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who made 19 starts across three levels in the Dodgers\' system last year, recording a 4.73 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 53⅓ innings. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred pitcher Kyle Hurt to the 60-day injured list.