Howell will replace Randy Choate in the Dodgers bullpen
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached an agreement with free-agent left-hander J.P. Howell on a one-year deal.
Financial terms of the deal call for Howell to receive $2.85 million in base salary and performance bonuses.
The Washington Nationals were said to have interest in Howell, who lost left-handed relievers Sean Burnett and Mike Gonzalez to free agency, but it was the Dodgers who sealed the deal.
Howell would take over for Randy Choate in the Dodgers bullpen who signed a three-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals last month.
Howell has pitched in many high leverage situations including 17 saves for Tampa Bay in 2009, but is best suited as a lefty specialist.
Howell missed all of 2010 and the first 44 games of 2011 after left shoulder surgery, and posted a 6.16 ERA in 46 games in 2011, before rebounding in 2012.
Howell was originally selected 31st overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2004 and traded to Tampa Bay in 2006 where he became an integral part of Tampa Bay’s bullpen.
The Dodgers will feature a rotation Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke , Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
The team re-signed closer Brandon League earlier this off-season.
