Dodgers bolster bullpen with Guerrier signing

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers keep spending despite the messy divorce of the McCourts.

Los Angeles finalized a $12 million, three-year contract on Thursday with reliever Matt Guerrier, hoping he can bolster the bullpen.

Guerrier gets $1.5 million in 2011 and $3.75 million each of the following two years. He receives a $3 million signing bonus payable in four installments through 2014.

While there were fears the contentious divorce of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt might slow spending, the Dodgers have committed more than $50 million on free agents. They re-signed pitchers Hiroki Kuroda ($12 million) and Vicente Padilla ($2 million) and catcher Rod Barajas ($3.25 million), added pitcher Jon Garland ($5 million) and gave infielder Juan Uribe a $21 million, three-year deal.

Guerrier has spent his entire seven-year major league career with the Minnesota Twins, who didn't offer him a contract for 2011.

Last season, the 32-year-old right-hander went 5-7 with one save and a 3.17 ERA in a team-leading 74 games. Guerrier led the Twins in games pitched for the last three seasons. His 311 2-3 innings since 2007 lead all major league relievers during that span.

The Dodgers signed Guerrier to shore up a bullpen that has been a major weakness.

Jonathan Broxton lost his role as closer last season, Hong-Chih Kuo has been bothered by injuries, free-agent George Sherrill wasn't offered a contract for 2011, Ronald Belisario spent two months on the restricted list, and former starter Vicente Padilla hasn't been a reliever in 10 years.

"Matt gives us depth in the bullpen as he's proven to be a strong performer on a team that contends year in and year out," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "He's willing to take the ball in any situation and his track record speaks for itself. We're excited to have him in the late innings for the next few seasons."

During the last two seasons, Guerrier limited opponents to a .213 batting average, including a .207 mark in 2009.