Mariners acquire Carlos Ruiz from Dodgers

The Mariners have acquired catcher Carlos Ruiz from the Dodgers, a major-league source has confirmed to SB Nation. Left-hander Vidal Nuno will head to Los Angeles in the deal, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.

FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman first reported the news. Seattle will exercise Ruiz’s $4.5 million option for next season.

Ruiz, 37, will give the Mariners a catching option alongside Mike Zunino and Jesus Sucre in the wake of the team’s decision to cut ties with Chris Iannetta. Ruiz is likely to split time with Zunino unless Seattle makes another move before Opening Day.

Ruiz appeared in 14 games for Los Angeles after being acquired in a waiver-wire deal in late August, notching 10 hits in 36 at-bats. He previously spent 10 ¹⁄₂ seasons with the Phillies, being named an All-Star in 2012 and helping the Phils win a World Series championship in 2008.

The move continues a string of significant moves for the M’s so far, as the club already cut ties with Iannetta and Nori Aoki (claimed by Astros) while exercising a $7 million option on Seth Smith.

Nuno, 29, posted a 3.53 ERA in 58.2 innings with the Mariners last season and will join lefties Luis Avilan, Grant Dayton and Adam Liberatore in the Dodgers’ bullpen mix. He has now been traded three times since July 2014, going from the Yankees to the Diamondbacks in the Brandon McCarthy deal before being dealt to Seattle in the Mark Trumbo trade eleven months later.

Nuno is under team control through the 2019 season.