JUPITER, Fla. -- In a swap of right-handed relievers, the Los Angeles Dodgers sent Matt Herges to the Montreal Expos for Guillermo Mota in a four-player trade Saturday.

The Expos also got minor league infielder Jorge Nunez and the Dodgers received minor league outfielder Wilkin Ruan.

Mota, 28, pitched in 53 games for the Expos last year, going 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 49 2-3 innings.

Herges, who turns 32 on April 1, was 9-8 with a 3.44 ERA and one save for the Dodgers, working 99 1-3 innings in 75 games.

"We're getting a guy who's a proven commodity," Expos general manager Omar Minaya said. "I like Mota, but I'm getting a guy who is better for this team right now."

The trade was the second for Minaya since taking the job Feb. 12. Earlier in spring training, he sent Geoff Blum to Houston for Chris Truby in a trade of infielders.

The Dodgers have been looking for a closer since they decided not to re-sign Jeff Shaw after last season.

It's still uncertain as to what they'll do in that area. One option is Paul Quantrill, acquired from Toronto in the offseason. Quantrill made the AL All-Star team last season, appearing in 80 games for the Blue Jays in a setup role.

"The acquisition of a hard-throwing reliever like Mota, who still has minor league options, adds pitching depth at either the major league level or in the minors," Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. "In Ruan, we acquired a young, speedy sure-handed outfield prospect that adds much-needed depth to our player development system and who should help the major league club in the future."

Herges' nine relief victories tied for the most in the NL with Montreal's Graeme Lloyd and San Francisco's Felix Rodriguez. Herges was 20-13 with a 3.38 ERA and two saves in three seasons with Los Angeles. His 20 relief victories in the past two years rank as the most in the majors.

"He upgrades our bullpen in the sense that he's durable," Minaya said. "I feel much safer with my bullpen now."

Minaya said he considered Herges as a setup man. The GM said he was still on the prowl to make deals for pitchers.

"There's still room to improve our pitching," Minaya said.

Nunez, 27, spent last year with Double-A Jacksonville, hitting .260 with four home runs and 28 RBI. His 44 stolen bases led the Southern League and helped make him an All-Star.

Ruan, 23, split last season between Class A Jupiter and Double-A Harrisburg. He hit a combined .273 with two homers and 32 RBI.