LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Dodgers strengthened their starting rotation on Friday by signing former All-Star pitcher Jon Garland to a one-year contract with a vesting option for 2012.
The 31-year-old, who returns to the Dodgers after playing for the San Diego Padres last season, will link up with fellow pitchers Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly in Los Angeles.
"We're very pleased to have Jon join this group and give us five very strong starters going into spring training," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a statement.
Each of that quintet won at least 10 games in 2010, with Garland going 14-12 for the Padres with a 3.47 ERA.
In his first stint with the Dodgers, Garland went 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA over six starts in 2009 after he was acquired at the August 31 waiver deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"We saw what Jon was capable of down the stretch in 2009 and again last year within our division," Colletti added. "Year after year, he takes the ball 30-plus times and gives his team a chance to win every time out."
According to local media, Garland has been guaranteed $5 million for 2011 with an $8 million option in 2012 should he reach 190 innings in the 2011 Major League Baseball season.
An All-Star in 2005 when he helped the Chicago White Sox win the World Series, Garland has gone 131-114 with a 4.32 ERA during his 11 years in the majors.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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