PHOENIX -- In a move designed to alleviate their outfield logjam and bolster their bullpen, the Brewers traded reserve outfielder Brady Clark and cash considerations to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for veteran right-handed pitcher Elmer Dessens.

"Elmer brings 10 years of major-league experience to our pitching staff," general manager Doug Melvin said in announcing the deal. "His versatility as a spot starter and long reliever should allow him to play a valuable role on our pitching staff this season."

Dessens, 36, has pitched in 339 big-league games and owns a career record of 46-59 with a 4.41 earned run average. He has pitched for Pittsburgh (1996-'98), Cincinnati (2000-'02), Arizona (2003-'04), Kansas City (2006) and Los Angeles (2004-'06). He went 5-8 with a 4.56 ERA and 2 saves in 62 relief appearances between Kansas City and Los Angeles last season.

Dessens went 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in six relief appearances for the Dodgers this spring (11 innings, 16 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, 2 homers). He will wear uniform No. 45, which most recently belonged to Carlos Lee.

Clark, 33, hit .284 with 30 homers and 168 RBI in four seasons with the Brewers. His best season came in 2005, when he batted .306 with 13 HR and 53 RBI in 145 games.

Clark, whose Dodgers will open the regular season against the Brewers on April 2 at Miller Park, was slated to make $3.8 million this season. Dessens' salary is roughly $1.7 million. With Clark out of the picture and Laynce Nix likely headed for the disabled list with a strained oblique, it appears that the Brewers will open the season with five outfielders: Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins, Corey Hart, Gabe Gross and Kevin Mench.

Here is the Brewers' starting lineup for an exhibition game against Arizona this afternoon in Tucson:

1. Weeks 2B
2. Hardy SS
3. Hart RF
4. Gross LF
5. Graffanino 3B
6. Miller C
7. Rottino 1B
8. Gwynn CF
9. Vargas RHP