Dodgers and White Sox complete Juan Pierre deal

The Dodgers acquired right-handed pitchers John Ely and Jon Link from the Chicago White Sox to complete Juan Pierre trade. Ely was a starter for Double-A Birmingham in 2009 with a league-leading 125 strikeouts in 156 innings. He is known as an adequate fastball and is considered to be a fifth-starter candidate. He was a third-round pick in 2007. Link saved 13 games at Triple-A in 2009, when he was striking out 66 but walking 27 in 56 1/3 innings in his white sox jersey. He is known as a hard thrower who has come across troubles for most of his seven professional seasons.

Juan Pierre has two years remaining on his contract of which the Dodgers will pay $10.5 million and the White Sox paying $8 million. The basic purpose of the deal for the Dodgers was to provide some payroll relief to obtain a starting pitcher.