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Dodgers acquire Ronald Torreyes from Blue Jays, DFA Darwin Barney

Ronald Torreyes played all season in Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2014 at age 21.
Ronald Torreyes played all season in Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2014 at age 21.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Friday acquired infielder Ronald Torreyes from the Blue Jays for cash considerations, and optioned him to Double-A Tulsa. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Darwin Barney was designated for assignment.

The 22-year-old Torreyes has hit .299/.353/.410 in parts of six minor league seasons, though this year he is hitting just .175/.208/.200 between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Fresno. Torreyes began the season in the Astros' system, but was designated for assignment on May 7, then traded to Toronto for cash eight days later.

The Blue Jays sent him to Double-A, where he is just 7-for-50 (.140) with two doubles and four walks in 16 games. He only struck out twice, so his batting average on balls in play with New Hampshire is just .146.

He played all last season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, then a Houston affiliate, at age 21, and hit .298/.345/.376 with 20 doubles, five triples and two home runs in 126 games. With one strikeout every 19.96 plate appearances, Torreyes was the second-hardest player in the minors to strikeout in 2014.

Torreyes is primarily a second baseman, with 353 minor league games at the position. But he has also played 91 games at shortstop, 55 games at third, base, 12 games in center field and 11 games in left.

This is the first season for Torreyes on a 40-man roster, so he is using the first of his three option years in 2015.

Torres has played in the Reds, Cubs, Astros and Blue Jays systems. In 2013 Houston acquired him from Chicago for a pair of international bonus pool slots, making Torres the first player ever dealt for international bonus pool slots.

This is the third cash trade the Dodgers have made this season with Toronto, also acquiring first baseman / outfielder Andy Wilkins and right-handed pitcher Matt West.

Barney is hitting .214/.273/.259 with five doubles and eight walks in 32 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, and has also served two stints on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Barney began the season on the major league roster, and was 0-for-4 in two games for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers could try to trade Barney, who is making $2.525 million this season, or could try to keep the 29-year-old defensive stalwart should he clear waivers. With four years, 62 days of service time, Barney has the right to decline an outright assignment to the minors and become a free agent, but in doing so would forfeit the remainder of his salary, roughly $1.5-1.6 million depending on the day.

In another minor league move, left-handed pitcher Dustin Richardson was promoted from Double-A Tulsa to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and left-handed pitcher Ryan Dennick was sent from OKC to Tulsa.