Dodgers sign pitcher Claudio Vargas
The Dodgers may have found a pitcher who could take a spot in the back end of their rotation, signing right-hander Claudio Vargas to an incentive-laden, one-year deal.
Vargas will be paid a base salary of $400,000 and can earn an additional $1.4 million in incentives.
The 30-year-old journeyman has played with five teams over six major-league seasons and has a career record of 46-40 with a 4.94 earned-run average. He has pitched in 164 games, including 114 starts.
Vargas was 3-2 with a 4.62 earned-run average in 11 games last season with the New York Mets. He was designated for assignment in June and spent the remainder of the year in the minors.
Vargas is playing winter ball in his native Dominican Republic and is 3-1 with a 4.02 earned-run average in six starts.
-- Dylan Hernandez
Great signing. Vargas is above replacement level at essentially the league minimum, with the potential to be a league-average starter (a very valuable commodity) for not much more. We need pitching and this is an excellent, low-risk pickup. The Dodgers have been surprisingly smart this offseason. Seems Frank and Ned are finally learning some things about player value.
Posted by: Hotblack Desiato | December 31, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Glad to see the Dodgers are continuing to build their triple A team for this year, but hey Frank, we already have a triple A team in Vegas. We don't need another one in LA too! McCort needs to go! BOYCOTT the Dodgers until McCort decides to build a large market, major league baseball team! And another thing Frank, don't be using fans' ticket money to create your tax deductions. The Dodger owner (and the real owner is his wife) is not dedicated to the Dodgers or their fans and they need to sell the team... NOW!
Posted by: Jack | December 31, 2008 at 05:23 PM