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Dodgers sign INF Valentin, re-sign LHP Alvarez

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers continued to
improve their infield with a veteran flair.

On Monday, the Dodgers signed free agent infielder Jose Valentin
to a one-year deal and re-signed lefthander Wilson Alvarez for
two years among a number of moves.

Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed, but Valentin
earned $5 million and Alvarez made $1.5 million last year.

The addition of Valentin comes 11 days after Los Angeles signed
former MVP second baseman Jeff Kent to a two-year deal worth $17
million.

Valentin, 35, hit just .216 with a career-high 30 home runs in
125 games with the Chicago White Sox last season. In his five
years in the South Side of Chicago, the native of Puerto Rico
has averaged more than 27 homers.

"Jose has a proven ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark
from the left side of the plate and he will complement our
lineup well," Los Angeles general manager Paul DePodesta said.
"His ability to play six different positions is also something
that should prove to be invaluable throughout the course of the
season."

Mainly a shortstop in his 13-year career, Valentin could fill
the Dodgers' hole at third base after free agent Adrian Beltre
inked a five-year, $64 million deal with the Seattle Mariners
last week. He appeared in 66 games at the hot corner with the
White Sox in 2001 and 83 in 2002.

In 1,434 career games with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago,
Valentin has hit .243 with 226 home runs and 722 RBIs.

Alvarez, 34, appeared in 40 games, including 15 starts, with Los
Angeles last season, going 7-6 with a 4.03 ERA. In his two
seasons in Southern California, the southpaw is 13-8 with a 3.30
ERA in 61 games.

"Wilson has been an invaluable part of the Dodgers for the last
two years, providing stability and flexibility to the pitching
staff as both a reliever and a starter," DePodesta said.

An All-Star with the Chicago White Sox in 1994, Alvarez has
posted a 101-88 record and a 3.94 ERA in 13 seasons with five
teams, including his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays between
1998-2002.

The Dodgers also re-signed righthander Giovanni Carrara and
infielder Olmedo Saenz to one-year deals.

Carrara, 36, compiled a 5-2 record with two saves and a 2.18 ERA
in 42 appearances last season. In his eight-year career, the
reliever is 22-13 with three saves and a 4.85 ERA.

Saenz, 34, hit .279 with 22 RBIs in 111 at-bats in his first
season with Los Angeles in 2004. One of the top pinch hitters
in the National League last season, Saenz tied for second in
pinch-hit homers (3), ranked fourth in RBIs (14) and finished
fifth with 15 hits off the bench.

In his six-year career with three organizations, Saenz has hit
.265 with 43 homers and 146 RBIs in 1,055 at-bats.

Finally, the Dodgers claimed lefthanded pitcher Frank Brooks off
waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brooks, 26, appeared in
11 games in his first major league season last year, going 0-1
with a 4.67 ERA.

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