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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jason Schmidt and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their three-year, $47 million contract Friday.
The 33-year-old right-hander spent the last 5½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants, going 11-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 32 starts during 2006. A three-time MLB All-Star, he also had been sought by the St. Louis Cardinals.
"Jason is a top-of-the-rotation starter who can dominate a game as well as any pitcher in the major leagues," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "He's a proven winner, and that's something that's very hard to find."
In the past six seasons, Schmidt struck out 1,142 batters, fifth in the major leagues behind Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Javier Vazquez.
Schmidt will receive $15.5 million next year, $16 million in 2008 and $15.5 million in 2009, with some of the money to be structured as part of a signing bonus.
He figures to strengthen a rotation that already was solid, joining Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, newly acquired left-hander Randy Wolf and Chad Billingsley. Los Angeles also has left-handers Mark Hendrickson and Hong-Chih Kuo available to start.
Colletti may continue his busy winter of restocking after the departures of Greg Maddux, J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo, and the expected departure of Eric Gagne. One possibility is that the Dodgers will try to get a power hitter by dealing a starting pitcher.
Along with Schmidt, Colletti has added Wolf, center fielder Juan Pierre, left fielder Luis Gonzalez and reserve catcher Mike Lieberthal to a club that tied San Diego for the National League West title last season.
The Dodgers made the playoffs as a wild card and were swept by the New York Mets in the first round.
Colletti was assistant GM for the Giants before taking the Dodgers' job, and his ties to Schmidt apparently swayed the pitcher's decision to come to Los Angeles. Schmidt also pitched for current Dodgers manager Grady Little, at Class AAA Richmond in 1995 when he had an 8-6 record and 2.25 ERA.
Schmidt has a 127-90 career record and 3.91 ERA during 12 major league seasons. He previously pitched for Atlanta and Pittsburgh, and was an All-Star in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
His 2.34 ERA in 2003 was the lowest in the league, and he finished second to Gagne in the Cy Young voting. He was 78-37 with a 3.36 ERA since joining San Francisco in 2001, and his .678 winning percentage is the best in San Francisco Giants' history.
Schmidt has averaged 14 wins with a 3.45 ERA and more than 190 innings over the past six seasons. He is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five playoff starts.
The 33-year-old right-hander spent the last 5½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants, going 11-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 32 starts during 2006. A three-time MLB All-Star, he also had been sought by the St. Louis Cardinals.
"Jason is a top-of-the-rotation starter who can dominate a game as well as any pitcher in the major leagues," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "He's a proven winner, and that's something that's very hard to find."
In the past six seasons, Schmidt struck out 1,142 batters, fifth in the major leagues behind Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Javier Vazquez.
Schmidt will receive $15.5 million next year, $16 million in 2008 and $15.5 million in 2009, with some of the money to be structured as part of a signing bonus.
He figures to strengthen a rotation that already was solid, joining Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, newly acquired left-hander Randy Wolf and Chad Billingsley. Los Angeles also has left-handers Mark Hendrickson and Hong-Chih Kuo available to start.
Colletti may continue his busy winter of restocking after the departures of Greg Maddux, J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo, and the expected departure of Eric Gagne. One possibility is that the Dodgers will try to get a power hitter by dealing a starting pitcher.
Along with Schmidt, Colletti has added Wolf, center fielder Juan Pierre, left fielder Luis Gonzalez and reserve catcher Mike Lieberthal to a club that tied San Diego for the National League West title last season.
The Dodgers made the playoffs as a wild card and were swept by the New York Mets in the first round.
Colletti was assistant GM for the Giants before taking the Dodgers' job, and his ties to Schmidt apparently swayed the pitcher's decision to come to Los Angeles. Schmidt also pitched for current Dodgers manager Grady Little, at Class AAA Richmond in 1995 when he had an 8-6 record and 2.25 ERA.
Schmidt has a 127-90 career record and 3.91 ERA during 12 major league seasons. He previously pitched for Atlanta and Pittsburgh, and was an All-Star in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
His 2.34 ERA in 2003 was the lowest in the league, and he finished second to Gagne in the Cy Young voting. He was 78-37 with a 3.36 ERA since joining San Francisco in 2001, and his .678 winning percentage is the best in San Francisco Giants' history.
Schmidt has averaged 14 wins with a 3.45 ERA and more than 190 innings over the past six seasons. He is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five playoff starts.