Dodgers free up money by sending four to Reds

The Los Angeles Dodgers shook up their roster Friday, sending outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, lefthander Alex Wood, catcher Kyle Farmer and $7 million to the Cincinnati Reds for righthander Homer Bailey and prospects Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray.

The Dodgers will release Bailey, a veteran starter still owed $28 million for 2019 and 2020, leaving the two-time defending NL champions without a major leaguer in exchange for three veterans who played significant roles for the club over the years. Their motives were elsewhere.

"If you look at our rotation and outfield four hours ago, it was not a functional roster," said Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations.

The deal is a substantial money-shedding measure for the Dodgers, one that grants significant funds they can allocate toward top-flight talent without having to blow past baseball's $206 million competitive-balance tax (CBT) threshold.

While Bailey will still count as $17.5 million against the tax line, the Dodgers are expected to skim about $22.8 million off their CBT payroll.

Trading Kemp and Puig also clears some of their outfield logjam — and perhaps creates a spot for Bryce Harper, this winter's prized free agent — while their surplus of starters made Wood expendable.

For the Reds, it's another move toward becoming competitive. Puig, Kemp and Wood are former All-Stars entering the final year of their contracts.

The 6-foot-7 lefthander has been dominant for much of this decade, but he went 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games with Cleveland in 2018 while dealing with injuries.

"One of our stated goals this offseason was to improve our bullpen," said John Mozeliak, Cardinals president of baseball operations.

Oakland landed infielder Jurickson Profar from Texas in a three-team deal that included Tampa Bay and netted the Rangers four prospects.

With the Athletics, Profar will take over at second base for departing Jed Lowrie.

Oakland also reached an agreement on a $15 million, two-year contract with free-agent reliever Joakim Soria.

• The Dodgers announced signing reliever Joe Kelly, a key figure for the Red Sox in their World Series victory over Los Angeles, to a three-year deal worth $25 million.

• Seattle acquired outfielder Domingo Santana from Milwaukee in exchange for outfielder Ben Gamel and minor league pitcher Noah Zavalos.

• Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia had a stent inserted after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart.