Peralta reunites with Friedman in Dodgers-Rays trade

The Dodgers beefed up their needy bullpen on Thursday night, acquiring veteran right-hander Joel Peralta and Minor League lefty Adam Liberatore from the Rays in exchange for right-handers Jose Dominguez and Greg Harris.

Peralta saw his ERA rise to 4.41 in 2014, but the 38-year-old struck out 74 batters in 63 1/3 innings and has been a reliable back-end bullpen arm since joining the Rays four seasons ago. From 2011-13, while pitching under new Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Peralta posted a 3.32 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and a 3.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 227 games.

The native Dominican is owed $2.5 million in 2015, the first of three club options -- at the same salary, with no buyout cost attached -- that the Rays already exercised. With the Dodgers, Peralta perceivably joins Brian Wilson as a setup option for closer Kenley Jansen.

Liberatore, 27, posted a 1.66 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP while striking out 86 batters in 65 innings for Triple-A Durham. The Bellflower, Calif., native has a 2.69 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and a 2.78 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his five-year Minor League career.

Liberatore was eligible to be selected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, but will be protected by being placed on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, which is now full.

Dominguez, a 24-year-old who throws his fastball in triple-digits, has posted a 6.14 ERA in 14 appearances for the Dodgers the last two seasons and had a 3.24 ERA and 10 saves for Triple-A Albuquerque this year.

Harris, 20, was selected by the Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft and spent the 2014 season with Class A Great Lakes, going 7-6 with a 4.45 ERA in 22 games (16 starts).