Dodgers Trade Claudio Vargas To Brewers For Vinny Rottino

The next time someone complains about a minimum-salary acquisition, let them know about the Dodgers and Claudio Vargas.  Vargas, who battled injuries for the first half of the year, actually produced for the big club once he was activated, allowing only two runs in his 11 innings.  And today he was flipped for catching depth in Vinny Rottino.

This move clears a 25-man roster spot for George Sherrill, and a 40-man spot if needed for another reliever.

From the Dodgers:

Rottino, 29, has appeared briefly in the Major Leagues for Milwaukee in each of the past three seasons and was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team last season when he posted a 24-game hitting streak. The Wisconsin native has made the PCL All-Star team each of the past three years and has been named to his league’s All-Star team in each season dating back to 2004 when he recorded a team record 124 RBI for Single-A Beloit.

Vargas, 31, spent much of the 2009 season on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis before being activated on July 3. Since returning to the big leagues, he has appeared in eight games for Los Angeles , posting a 1.64 ERA in 11.0 innings. The Dominican Republic native will be returning to Milwaukee , where he won 11 games for the Brewers in 2007.  In seven big league seasons, the right-hander is 46-40 with a 4.89 ERA in 172 games (114 starts).

Rottino is expected to report to Double-A Chattanooga.