MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers reacquired reliever Claudio Vargas from the Los Angeles Dodgers today.

The Dodgers got minor league catcher Vinny Rottino in the trade between playoff contenders. The deal was completed hours before baseball's non-waiver deadline.

The 31-year-old Vargas was 0-0 with a 1.64 ERA in eight games for the NL West-leading Dodgers. The right-hander was on the disabled list for nearly three months because of elbow tendinitis, and was activated July 3.

Vargas went 11-6 with a 5.09 ERA for Milwaukee in 2007 and was released before the start of the 2008 season. He is expected to join the Brewers on Saturday in San Diego.

Milwaukee entered Friday tied for third in the NL Central, four games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs.

It was the second deal in two days for the Dodgers, who upgraded their bullpen Thursday by obtaining former All-Star closer George Sherrill from Baltimore for two minor leaguers: third baseman Josh Bell and right-hander Steve Johnson, both of whom were at Double-A Chattanooga.

The 29-year-old Rottino has made brief appearances in the majors for Milwaukee each of the past three seasons. He is slated to report to Chattanooga.