Dodgers to sign JP Howell

[mexican dodger]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/0...jp-howell.html

The Dodgers have agreed to sign J.P. Howell to a one-year deal worth just under $3MM, reports ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter links). Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times first reported the two sides were moving towards an agreement. The left-hander is a Legacy Sports Group client.

Howell, 29, pitched to a 3.04 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 50 1/3 innings for the Rays last season after missing all of 2010 and part of 2011 due to shoulder surgery. He held left-handed batters to a .200/.306/.306 batting line with a 52.4% ground ball rate in 2012. Howell is a soft-tosser, averaging just 87.1 mph with his fastball last year according to PitchFX.

The Dodgers have not been shy about spending over the last eight months or so. They've re-signed Brandon League while adding Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu this offseason, plus they acquired Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and others during the season. Howell replaces the departed Randy Choate, who took a three-year deal with the Cardinals a few weeks ago.

MLBTR's Tim Dierkes did not rank Choate as one of the offseason's Top 50 Free Agents. As our Free Agent Tracker shows, lefties relievers like Will Ohman, J.C. Romero, and Manny Parra remain unsigned.

[Dodgerbluemmm24]

Fixed the link for you.

[mexican dodger]

Fixed the link for you.

Thanks I did it quick from my phone.

[Cracka2HI!]

Seems OK.

[bluedawgalex]

not bad i thought we were set with elbert/paco

[Dodgers99]

not bad i thought we were set with elbert/paco

Elbert is horrible against LHB, .271 to be exact.

[LASportsFan1996]

1 year deal = Perfect... Paco will be ready next year

[jaydubb]

Underrated signing.. Good move.

[bluedawgalex]

Elbert is horrible against LHB, .271 to be exact.

i know, its a good move, i THOUGHT we were set but im glad he got signed

howell/paco is better to me than elbert/paco

[LASportsFan1996]

But it's gonna be Elbert/Howell

[bluedawgalex]

i still dont believe we can count on elbert

i hope by midseason elbert will be out of the picture

[LASportsFan1996]

Lol, Elbert has progressed very well over the last few years

[ciaban]

Lol, Elbert has progressed very well over the last few years

i agree, plus when an injury happens(which it will) he will get called up.

btw ladies and gents, if paco does really well in ST he might start on the opening day roster.

[jmkh]

i like the signing

[dodgerfan87]

Very good signing!