Osuna Trade Eases Logjam in Bullpen

The Dodgers traded reliever Antonio Osuna and a minor league pitcher Sunday to the Chicago White Sox for three pitching prospects.

The deal sent Osuna--expendable because of right-handed bullpen depth--and left-hander Carlos Ortega to the American League Central champions and brought minor league pitchers Gary Majewski, Orlando Rodriguez and Andre Simpson to the Dodgers.

The Dodgers did not have room for Osuna on the 25-man roster, and have been eager to acquire young pitchers to bolster their weak farm system.

Right-handers Majewski, 21, and Simpson, 20, pitched in Class A last season, and left-hander Rodriguez, 20, played in a rookie league.

Ortega, 22, is a converted outfielder who pitched in Class A.

The White Sox had pursued Osuna, who turns 28 on April 12, since the December winter meetings, believing he could be an effective setup man.

Osuna was not with the club in Tampa and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

The Dodgers also are expected to trade reliever Gregg Olson to open a roster spot.

“This eases the bullpen [situation] and eases the payroll a tad,” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “We like Antonio, and he did a good job for us last year, but we have other guys in that role who we like a little better.

“We felt that we had enough depth, and not just depth but quality depth, to make this deal. We’re trying to build for the future too, and hopefully all three of these guys will help in L.A. someday.”

Majewski pitched at two Class-A levels for the White Sox, and had a combined record of 8-11 with a 3.51 earned-run average and 161 strikeouts in 171 2/3 innings.

A second-round draft pick in 1998, Majewski was 6-7 with a 3.07 ERA in 22 starts for Burlington of the Midwest League.

Majewski, listed by one publication as the White Sox’s No. 12 prospect, limited batters to a .182 average and had three shutouts.

Simpson was 5-6 with 15 saves and a 3.01 ERA at Burlington. The 21st-round draft pick had 68 strikeouts in 80 2/3 innings, and a .232 opponent batting average.

Rodriguez, signed as a free agent, was 2-5 with a 4.20 ERA in rookie ball. A native of the Dominican Republic, he had 53 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings and opponents batted .234 against him.

“When you can add three prospects,” Malone said, “that’s pretty significant to our long-term plan.”

The White Sox plan to use Osuna in short relief, the role he prefers but would not have occupied with the Dodgers.

He has a non-guaranteed $1.5-million salary this season and can become a free agent after the World Series.

Osuna, who closed briefly in 1998, is expected to set up for White Sox closer Keith Foulke.

Last season, Osuna was 3-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 46 games after recovering from elbow surgery in 1999.

Ortega was 4-2 with a 4.55 ERA at Class-A Vero Beach last season, and batted .236 with four home runs and 42 runs batted in during three seasons as an outfielder.

Osuna’s fastball has been clocked at 95 mph, and he had a high strikeout ratio in five-plus seasons with the Dodgers.

White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams had attempted to acquire Osuna since December because his club needed a hard-throwing right-handed setup man.

“Osuna is very valuable,” Williams said. “Sometimes the game is on the line in the sixth or seventh inning when you need a strikeout.

“You may not get to the ninth without that guy doing the job in the sixth, seventh or eighth.”

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Setup man Terry Adams (1-0) started and pitched five strong innings in a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees at Legends Field. The right-hander gave up four hits and one run with four strikeouts and four walks. Adams, who might be the closer next season, started because Manager Jim Tracy said he needs rotation options if starters are injured or struggle.

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Rookie left-hander Jose Nunez, expected to make the opening day roster, had another solid two-inning outing. He gave up two hits and a run with a strikeout and a walk, and retired left-handed batters Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez and David Justice on eight pitches.

Notes

Rookie utility player Hiram Bocachica, also expected to make the team, is listed as day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left ankle. . . . Utility player F.P. Santangelo suffered a strained oblique muscle. . . . The Atlanta Braves defeated the Dodgers, 7-1, in a split-squad game at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. . . . The Dodgers are 13-7 in Grapefruit League play.