Dodgers agree to terms with Ted Lilly

The Dodgers have agreed to terms on a new contract with pitcher Ted Lilly, according to a baseball source. The terms were not immediately available; the deal is expected to be finalized after Lilly passes a physical examination.

Lilly, 34, went 7-4 with a 3.52 earned-run average in 12 starts last season for the Dodgers. The club acquired him in a July 31 trade from the Chicago Cubs. The deal also brought infielder Ryan Theriot to Los Angeles; the Dodgers sent infielder Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers to the Cubs

Lilly, who grew up in the South Bay, had let the Dodgers know he wanted to return and did not need to test free agency if the club presented him with a solid offer.

The Dodgers now have Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Lilly set to return atop their starting rotation. Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla are expected to file for free agency, and the Dodgers have not ruled out bringing back either or both. However, they are not expected to be active in the pursuit of Cliff Lee, the premier starter eligible for free agency.

Lilly is 113-96 with a 4.18 ERA in 12 major league seasons; 54-39 with a 3.80 ERA in five National League seasons. The ERA+ statistic, which controls for league and ballpark differentials, has ranked Lilly as an above-average major league pitcher in all but one year since 2002.

-- Dylan Hernandez and Bill Shaikin

Photo: Ted Lilly works against the Colorado Rockies in August. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[crystalheuvo]

Now that the Yankees are setting their sights on Cliff Lee it makes Lilly pretty easy pickings for a team willing to commit to three years for a pitcher who will start the season at 35 years old. Could work for the Dodgers in salvaging some season ticketholders but sounds like they are going to get "mannyized" once again.

[alanw19]

That should be a solid threesome in the rotation. It would be good if the other two were as good or better, but not likely Dodgers are going to be spending.

I am surprised this move was done by the middle of October, but glad it was. Here's hoping for more positive news from the team.

[ALex Lopez]

Wow! Lilly is actually coming back to LA. Well, it is going to take a lot more than that to get me to purchase tickets again. BOYCOTT TILL THEY SELL THE TEAM-DONT BE SUCKERED AGAIN!!!

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

This will be a nice excuse for Ned when other teams (i.e. Yankees, Phillies) acquire legit ace pitchers. Lilly's pretty decent; nothing spectacular. But this franchise is allergic to possessing spectacular players or managers.

[The Accountants]

We suggest that Mr. Lilly cash his check immediately.

[16blows]

OK, Lilly and his $X million$ are in tow...now, which high-priced current dudger goes in order $ubtract enough $hekel$ to fit Ted into Frank's bargain basement baseball budget?

[We Still Need A Bat(s)]

While Ned was signing Lilly today did anybody notice that Coletti outfield castoffs Jayson Werth and Cody Ross (2) homered in the NLCS game?

[OldBrooklynFan]

I'm very happy to read this and I'm hoping the Dodgers sign both Kuroda and Padilla. The offense just has to score some runs in support.

[Steele Here]

"While Ned was signing Lilly today did anybody notice that Coletti outfield castoffs Jayson Werth and Cody Ross (2) homered in the NLCS game?

Posted by: We Still Need A Bat(s) | 10/16/2010 at 08:15 PM"

What's your point with this comment? Both of these guys were blocked by superior talent (Kemp, Ethier, Manny and Pierre) in the outfield when the Dodgers let them go. The fact is that you can still make a strong argument that Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are still more valuable to the Dodgers based on their future potential.

Additionally, Jayson Werth couldn't stay healthy for close to two years prior to the Dodgers letting him go. With the Phillies this year, his batting splits show that most of his production (2010 Home, 18 HR and .320 AVG; 2010 Away, 9 HR and .270 AVG) is a result of playing in the Phillies bandbox know as Citizen's Bank Ballpark. The team that signs him this off-season is going to look as dumb as the Giants a few years ago when they overpaid Aaron Rowand after he had a great season for the Phillies in their joke of a ballpark.

As for David Ross, he was basically another Jason Repko when he was with the Dodgers. He's had some success only because the Marlins had no other option with regards to who to play in the outfield and as a result he's put up league average statistics. The Giants on the other hand wouldn't even be playing him right now if Jose Guillen wasn't injured. Hitting two home runs in one game isn't a barometer to show that a mistake was made.

[Since '58]

Steele Here took the words right out my mouth regarding Ross and Werth. Thanks for beating me to it!
As for Lilly's signing: Colletti was in the same position with Manny. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't. There must be some money around to sign SOMEBODY. We probably will sign other players because we do have to field a team, after all. Lilly, while not being anything close to a Greg Maddox or an Andy Pettitte talent-wise, could still be reasonably effective for another three years. Maddox was, and Pettitte is still able to get guys out at an advanced baseball age. Lilly will also be an effective mentor to Kershaw and Billingsley. Besides, a guy who lives near Yosemite in the winter has to have a lot going for him.

[HLCCA]

Why would Ted Lilly even want to return? This franchise is in such a state of chaos that it will be years before they sort things out

[aladou]

"most of his production (2010 Home, 18 HR and .320 AVG; 2010 Away, 9 HR and .270 AVG) is a result of playing in the Phillies bandbox"
--
Steele, 2 points:
1) for Werth's career at Citizens Bank Park, the home-away differential is fairly modest:
Home: .910 OPS, 51 HRs
Away: .856 OPS, 44 HRs

2) in recent years, CBP has been one of the most neutral parks in baseball.
See here...
http://www.thegoodphight.com/2010/10/14/1737862/the-phillies-home-fairest-in-the-land
and here...
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor