Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with left-handed relief pitcher J.P. Howell on a one-year contract, the team announced on Monday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the club, though CBSSports.com reported the deal to be worth $2.85 million with another $1.2 million available through incentives.
Howell had spent the last seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and is coming off a solid 2012 campaign in which the California native posted a 1-0 record with a 3.04 earned run average over 55 appearances. He limited left-handed hitters to a .200 average as well.
The 29-year-old has registered a .209 batting average against since 2008, which ranked seventh in the American League over that span, along with a 3.08 ERA and 239 strikeouts over a total of 237 innings pitched. Howell did miss the entire 2010 season while recovering from shoulder surgery, however.
Howell joins Scott Elbert, who is presently recovering from an offseason elbow procedure, and 2012 draft pick Paco Rodriguez as the primary southpaws in Los Angeles' projected 2013 bullpen.
