Dodgers agree to minor-league deals with Jeff Weaver and Alfredo Amezaga
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Jeff Weaver will have to pitch his way onto the Dodgers’ roster again.
One of the unsung heroes in the Dodgers’ run to the National League Championship Series last year, Weaver agreed Tuesday to a minor-league contract worth $800,000 if he makes the Dodgers’ major-league roster, according to a baseball source who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal isn’t official yet.
Weaver, 33, was one of two veterans to agree to minor-league deals with the Dodgers, the other being utility man Alfredo Amezaga. Amezaga’s agent, Mike Nicotera, said Amezaga agreed to a deal that will pay him a base salary of $650,000 if he makes the Dodgers’ major-league roster and could earn him an additional $800,000 in incentive bonuses based on games played and plate appearances.
Weaver went into camp last year on a minor-league deal, but went 6-4 with a 3.65 earned-run average in 28 appearances for the Dodgers. He went 2-1 with a 3.13 earned-run average in seven starts. He also finished five games.
Amezaga, 32, started his career with the Angels. A utility man who played everything from shortstop to center field, he appeared in an average of 130 games from 2006 to 2008. However, he was limited to 27 games last year because of a knee injury. Amezaga underwent microfracture surgery in July and started to run only three weeks ago.
“The goal for him is to be back and ready by opening day,” Nicotera said.
Nicotera said his client was steered to the Dodgers in part because of the reputation of their medical staff, in particular head trainer Stan Conte.
“The fact that Stan Conte is with the Dodgers had a role in this,” Nicotera said.
-- Dylan Hernandez