Monday, January 07, 2013

Dodgers Sign Millionaire Howell

Rather than casting anyone away, the Dodgers are still signing people up: in this case, former Tampa Ray J.P. Howell:

Left-hander J.P. Howell has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for is $2.85 million in base salary, plus performance bonuses, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Howell, 29, had a 3.04 ERA in 50 1/3 innings last season out of the bullpen with the Tampa Bay Rays. He had success against left-handed hitters, who batted a mere .200 against him.

The reliever spent seven seasons with the Rays, posting a 21-22 record with 21 saves and a 4.42 ERA.

Howell joins Brandon League as the second major addition to the Dodgers' bullpen this offseason. League agreed to a three-year deal worth $22.5 million in November.

Actually, League was with the team last year, but I guess ESPN's other "sources" hadn't caught that point yet. More from the Dodgers:

The Dodgers want a veteran lefty because Scott Elbert is returning from elbow surgery and Paco Rodriguez has only one month of Major League experience. Those are the only other lefty relievers on the 40-man roster.

Howell, who attended Southern Cal and the University of Texas at Austin, was a first-round pick of the Royals in 2004 and was traded to the Rays in 2006.

With about 96 people on the roster at this point, spring training is going to be awesome. I can't wait.