In an indirect sort of way, Vinny Rottino just might end up having a significant impact on the Milwaukee Brewers after all.

The 1998 St. Catherine's High School graduate was traded by the Brewers to the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday for right-handed pitcher Claudio Vargas. Rottino will make the two-hour drive today from Huntsville, Ala., where he has playing for the Brewers' Class AA farm affiliate this season, to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he has been assigned to the Dodgers' Class AA farm team.

Both teams play in the Southern League.

The 29-year-old Rottino, who signed with the Brewers as an undrafted free agent in January 2003 after earning first-team NCAA Division III All-American honors as a shortstop at UW-La Crosse as a senior in 2002, was informed of the trade Friday morning by assistant general manager Gord Ash. He reacted to the news with encouragement, mixed with a little melancholy.

"It's a great opportunity," Rottino said. "But I'll always have allegiance to the Brewers. I grew up as a fan, they signed me and they gave me an opportunity in the big leagues. I feel real good about the Brewers."

At the same time, he feels encouraged by getting a new opportunity. Rottino, who was the recipient of the Brewers' Robin Yount Performance Award winner in 2004 as their Minor League Player of the Year, never got an extended chance with Milwaukee even though he had the ability to play multiple positions.

He was called up to the Brewers in each of the last three Septembers, when Major League rosters are expanded, but did not see extensive playing time. He hit .208 for the Brewers

(5-for-24) with two doubles and four RBIs during his three September call-ups.

When he did not make the Brewers' roster during spring training this year, he agreed to play at the Class AA level as a way to receive regular playing time. As a first baseman for the Stars, Rottino was hitting .249 (85-for-341) with 13 doubles, four homers and 48 RBIs, which ranked second on the team.

While he did not have the opportunity to play for the Brewers this season, he was encouraged that the Dodgers gave up a major league pitcher for him.

"Obviously, they wanted me," Rottino said. "They gave up a big league pitcher. It was a little bit surprising, I didn't expect it, but, hey, I'm going to roll with it and go with it. It's a great opportunity for me to get back to the big leagues with another organization.

"I'm just excited to get going."

And if Vargas is able to help stabilize the Brewers' rotation, Rottino will take comfort in the fact he was able to help a team that remains dear to his heart.

"I think he's going to start," Rottino said. "The Brewers obviously wanted him."

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said the Dodgers had originally expressed an interest in Rottino in 2007.

"We had been talking to them about Vargas for four or five days," Melvin said Friday night. "They gave us a list of people and we decided on certain people (to keep) and then they went back and looked at the list. Vinny was the guy they asked about, I think, two years ago."

Melvin realized how much of a dream it was for Rottino to play for the Brewers and was pleased that he at least got a chance.

"He always dreamed of wearing the Brewers uniform in the big leagues and he got the opportunity," Melvin said. "He'll have to wear the Dodger blue now, I guess. We liked Vinny - he was a hard worker and a good person. He worked his tail off to get where he did."

The 31-year-old Vargas, who went 11-6 with a 5.09 earned run average for the Brewers in 2007, brings to Milwaukee desperately needed pitching depth.

Dave Bush has been on the disabled list since June 23 with a sore arm that was originally injured by a line drive off the bat of the Florida Marlins June 4. And Jeff Suppan was placed on the disabled list Thursday with an injured rib cage.

By reacquiring Vargas, who was released by Milwaukee March 25, 2008, the Brewers are gambling that he will provide some depth. He has appeared in eight games for the Dodgers this season, all in relief, and has a 1.64 ERA in 11

innings.

The Dodgers activated him July 3 after he spent nearly three months on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis.

Vargas, who has played for six teams since making his Major League debut in 2003, is 46-40 with a 4.89 ERA in his career.