KMAX: Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Arizona Diamondbacks traded Elmer Dessens to Los Angeles on Thursday, the Dodgers' second deal for a pitcher since finding out this week that reliever Darren Dreifort was facing season-ending surgery.

The NL West-leading Dodgers sent minor league outfielder Jereme Milons to the Diamondbacks for Dessens and cash considerations. Dreifort was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday.

Dessens, 33, was 1-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 38 games this season, including nine starts. The right-hander was much more effective in relief, posting a 2.03 ERA with two saves in that role.

``He pitched great when he was pitching out of the bullpen,'' said Dodgers center fielder Steve Finley, traded from Arizona to Los Angeles on July 31.

``Elmer got a lot of big outs. He was pitching in the seventh and eighth innings, even closed out a couple of games. He said he'd do whatever the team wanted him to do. He's got a really good heavy sinker, a curveball, slider and split and a cutter,'' Finley said.

Dessens was in his second season with the Diamondbacks, who have the worst record in the majors. He previously played for Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and is 39-49 lifetime in the big leagues.

``Elmer is a proven major league pitcher who has excelled this season out of the bullpen, and we feel fortunate to be able to add an arm into our mix,'' Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta said. ``We expect him to be a valuable addition to our relief corps down the stretch.''

Milons, 21, batted a combined .267 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs at Class A Vero Beach and Columbus.

On Wednesday, the Dodgers got lefty Scott Stewart from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named or cash. Stewart is headed for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Los Angeles began this week with the best bullpen ERA in the majors, but found itself searching for a setup man after Dreifort partially tore a ligament in his right knee in Monday's 4-2 loss to Florida.

Manager Jim Tracy said Dessens would enter into the mix with Giovanni Carrara and rookie left-hander Yhency Brazoban as setup men, depending on situations and matchups. Tracy said he will not use Dessens as a spot starter.

``He was acquired to be a part of our bullpen,'' Tracy said. ``He has good numbers pitching out of the bullpen.''

Guillermo Mota spent the first four months of the season setting up for record-setting Cy Young closer Eric Gagne. Mota was traded to the Marlins with Paul Lo Duca and Juan Encarnacion for Brad Penny and Hee Seop Choi on June 30, and Dreifort inherited Mota's role.

Dreifort was 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA in a career-high 60 appearances. Dodgers team physician Dr. Frank Jobe strongly suggested Dreifort have surgery that would take his rehabilitation into next spring training.

This is the fourth straight season in which the right-hander has been on the DL, and the sixth time in a career that began in 1994. Most of Dreifort's stays on the DL have been long ones, including the entire 1995 and 2002 seasons due to Tommy John surgery on his elbow.