Phillies trade catcher Carlos Ruiz to Dodgers

The Dodgers have acquired veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz from the Phillies for catcher A.J. Ellis and a prospect.

The Dodgers have acquired veteran Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, the teams announced Thursday. The 37-year-old Ruiz goes to Los Angeles in exchange for catcher A.J. Ellis, righthander Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later or cash.

The longtime Phillies backstop waived his no-trade rights to join the Dodgers, who sit atop the National League West entering Thursday. Ruiz is hitting .261 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 48 games this season.

Former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. on Chooch: pic.twitter.com/knfFD98deu

— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) August 25, 2016

• VAULT: Ruiz the anchor of Phils’ dominant staff

Ellis has hit .194 this season as a reserve this season. The 35-year-old broke into the big leagues with the Dodgers in 2008 and has served as Clayton Kershaw’s personal catcher for most of the ace’s career.

Ellis and Kershaw were both devastated by the news of the trade, with the catcher telling reporters that the two wept together. 

Bergjans, 23, has a 4.98 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 130 innings in Class A ball this seasonn.