Dodgers Trade Guerrero for Cardinal’s Left-Handed Tudor

The Los Angeles Dodgers traded away fiery slugger Pedro Guerrero to the St. Louis Cardinals today, thus bolstering their pitching staff for the stretch run by acquiring veteran left-hander John Tudor.

Guerrero, hitting .298, earns $1.72 million, third highest on the Dodger payroll behind Fernando Valenzuela and Kirk Gibson. He has been on the disabled list for 52 days this season with a pinched nerve in his neck.

Tudor, who won 31 of 41 decisions in the Cardinals’ pennant-winning seasons in 1985 and 1987, becomes the lone southpaw in the Los Angeles rotation. The Dodgers have been without a left-handed starter since Valenzuela was disabled July 30.

Tudor, 34, who missed four starts at the beginning of the year because of a shoulder injury, is 6-5 and is among the league leaders with a 2.29 ERA. He owns a 50-22 record in four seasons with the Cardinals.