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