Dodgers sign Penny to one-year, $5.1 mil. deal

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005 | 9:45 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The Los Angeles Dodgers reached an agreement Monday with Brad Penny, signing the right-hander to a one-year contract with a $5.1 million base salary and up to $100,000 in additional incentives. In becoming the club's last arbitration-eligible player to sign, Penny ensured the Dodgers won't have to go to a hearing this winter.

The Penny matter might not be closed. General manager Paul DePodesta said he hopes to begin negotiations soon on a longer-term contract for the five-year veteran.

"I don't think (it will happen) this week, but we know he's a free agent at the end of this year, and I think we would certainly like to have discussions long before that becomes a reality," DePodesta said. "We wanted to go ahead and get this (one-year deal) out of the way, but I think we would all have some interest in making this a long-term relationship."

The Dodgers also were negotiating with free-agent right-hander Scott Erickson on a minor-league contract that would include an invitation to big-league spring training. Erickson, 36, is a 15-year major-league veteran and former 20-game winner who went 1-4 with a 6.67 ERA last season with the New York Mets and Texas.

DePodesta said he isn't concerned about Penny's health, although Penny made just three starts for the Dodgers after they acquired him July 30 from Florida. He pitched eight shutout innings in his Aug. 3 debut against Pittsburgh, then left each of the next two starts with a nerve injury in his right biceps.

Penny, who didn't have surgery, has been rehabilitating the injury all winter and reportedly is doing well. DePodesta said he expects Penny to throw at least a couple of side sessions at Dodger Stadium before he leaves for spring training.

Former Dodger Mike Piazza expects to be the Mets' catcher this season. Other than that, he is aware that his future in New York is uncertain and that he could be somewhere else in 2006, if he is playing at all.

During a 30-minute conference call Monday, the 36-year-old Piazza, the career leader in home runs by a catcher, said he had not ruled out retiring after this season, the final one of the seven-year, $91 million contract he signed in 1998.

"I'm sort of a little bit at a crossroads in my career," said Piazza, who had had little to say publicly this winter even as the Mets, for the first time, were looking to trade him.

In 129 games last season, Piazza batted .266 -- his lowest average since hitting .232 in a brief stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 -- with 20 home runs, 54 runs batted in and a trip to the disabled list.

It was the second consecutive frustrating season for Piazza, who in an injury-marred 2003 played in 68 games, batting .286 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs.

In Miami, free-agent outfielder Magglio Ordonez met with Detroit owner Mike Ilitch and his top staff. Tigers president Dave Dombrowski and manager Alan Trammell also attended the meeting, as did agent Scott Boras and associate Mike Fiore.

Ordonez, a four-time All-Star who turns 31 on Friday, hit .292 last season with nine homers and 37 RBIs in 202 at-bats for the Chicago White Sox. A career .307 hitter with 187 homers, he missed 36 games after injuring his left knee May 19, then went on the disabled list for good on July 22 with bone marrow edema.

Other players did make their picks Monday.

First baseman Tony Clark agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with his hometown Arizona Diamondbacks. Clark, 32, appeared in 106 games and started 64 for the New York Yankees last season, hitting .221 with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Rich Aurilia and the Reds agreed to a minor league contract that gives the 33-year-old former All-Star the chance to become Cincinnati's starting shortstop. He would get a $600,000, one-year contract if he is added to the major league roster.

Ben Grieve agreed to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who will give the 1998 AL Rookie of the Year a shot at making their increasingly crowded outfield. He would get a $500,000, one-year contract if the Pirates add him to their big league roster.

Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and the White Sox agreed on a two-year contract. Iguchi will get between $2 million and $2.5 million per season, and the White Sox will have an option for a third year.

Two other players in salary arbitration settled, leaving 31 scheduled for hearings next month.

Right-hander Jake Westbrook, who became an All-Star for Cleveland last year, agreed to a $7.5 million, two-year contract, and Pittsburgh utilityman Rob Mackowiak agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year deal.