DODGERS SIGN MOTA.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

The Dodgers avoided arbitration with reliever Guillermo Mota and signed him to a one-year, $1.475 million contract Wednesday.

The signing means Eric Gagne is the only arbitration-eligible player not to settle with the Dodgers. Gagne appears headed for a Feb. 18 hearing to determine his 2004 salary.

Mota, 30, led National League relievers with 105 innings last season and established himself as one of baseball's best setup men. Mota, who made $675,000 in 2003, asked for $1.75 million and the Dodgers offered $1.2 million.

Several teams were interested in Mota as a closer and inquired about trades this winter. But general manager Dan Evans resisted because Mota is expected to be the primary setup man after Paul Quantrill signed with the Yankees as a free agent.

- Rich Hammond 

--Cubs sign Farnsworth: Reliever Kyle Farnsworth and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract and avoided a salary arbitration hearing next week.

Farnsworth, who appeared in 77 games last season while striking out 92 in 76 1/3 innings, had asked for $1.7 million, while the Cubs countered with an offer of $1.1 million. The 27-year-old right-hander made $600,000 last season, when he went 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA.

--Baltimore signs Ryan: Left-hander B.J. Ryan and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a one-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing by compromising at the midpoint of their proposals.

Ryan will get $1,275,000, halfway between the $1.55 million he had asked for and the $1 million the Orioles had offered.

--Mets get reliever: Ricky Bottalico agreed to a minor-league contract with the New York Mets. The 34-year-old right-hander pitched in just two major league games last year, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 1 2-3 innings with Arizona.