BASEBALL : Dodgers Sign Martinez for One Year at $1.775 Million

Dodger pitcher Ramon Martinez, coming off an inconsistent season, avoided arbitration Monday by signing a one-year contract with the Dodgers worth $1.775 million.

The compromise--Martinez had asked for $2 million and the Dodgers had offered $1.4 million--gives the 24-year-old right-hander a raise of $1.050 million.

Martinez, who held out of spring training for 11 days two seasons ago, didn’t quite have that kind of leverage this time around. He struggled last season with what was diagnosed as tennis elbow, and posted an 8-11 record with a 4.00 earned-run average. He pitched his last game Aug. 25 and has spent the time since rehabilitating his arm, which he now says is feeling great. His overall record in five seasons is 52-37 with a 3.32 ERA.

The Dodgers will head to spring training next week with all their players signed.