GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers' roster crunch is a little less crunchy.
Outfielder Darin Ruf has signed with the Samsung Lions of the Korean baseball league reportedly for $1.1 million. Ruf was acquired by the Dodgers from the Philadelphia Phillies along with minor-leaguer Darnell Sweeney in a November trade that sent Howie Kendrick to Philadelphia.
That trade saved the Dodgers Kendrick's $10 million salary and Ruf was deemed expendable in a crowded outfield picture that got enough deeper with the signing of free agent Franklin Gutierrez last week.
Ruf's departure clears one spot on the 40-man roster for either Gutierrez or Chase Utley.