DODGERS TURN BACK FOR THE FUTURE.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer The Dodgers' search for a veteran pitcher to complete the starting rotation ended Thursday when they signed former Dodger star Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. to a two-year contract that guarantees the right-hander $13.5 million. But what transpired earlier in the week had them scratching their heads. Disney brass nixed a deal involving Darin Erstad Darin Charles Erstad (born June 4, 1974 in Jamestown, North Dakota) is a first baseman/center fielder in Major League Baseball currently with the Chicago White Sox. Prior to 2007, he had played his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise (1996-2006). last week, the same thing happened to a deal to send Angels closer Troy Percival Troy Eugene Percival (born August 9, 1969 in Fontana, California) is a Major League Baseball reliever on the St. Louis Cardinals. Percival came out of retirement on June 8, 2007 when he signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals[1]. to the Dodgers for setup man Matt Herges Matthew Tyler Herges (born April 1, 1970, in Champaign, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an alumnus of Illinois State University. Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1992, Herges would make his Major League Baseball debut with and prospects. The Dodgers thought the deal was completed, but Disney's upper management crushed the proposed trade, sources said. The Dodgers then tried to get involved in a three-team deal to send Anaheim's Mo Vaughn New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . ``There are a lot of people providing input prior to any decision regarding player personnel,'' Angels spokesman Tim Mead said. ``Everybody's on the same page.'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans hasn't abandoned his quest to acquire Percival, but he might have to put together a new package for such a deal and a three-team swap is unlikely, baseball officials said. Meanwhile, the acquisition of Nomo gives the Dodgers a starting rotation of right-handers Kevin Brown The name Kevin Brown can refer to several different people, including the following:
``I like our rotation, and I think our rotation has improved,'' Evans said. ``I really believe in depth of starting pitching. One of the issues we have here with Nomo and Daal is that they will give us innings. They have deception and different looks. Brown, Ashby, Gagne, Daal and Nomo, they're very different-type pitchers.'' Nomo's return to his original organization is a dramatic shift to when he left in an ugly divorce during the 1998 season when he was traded to the Mets. Nomo's agent, Don Nomura, said the change in on-field staff and in the front office made it possible. Nomo also is reunited him with former pitching coach Dave Wallace, now senior vice president of baseball operations with the Dodgers. ``I believe it's a big thing,'' Nomo said through translator Acey Kohrogi, the Dodgers director of Asian operations. ``(Wallace) knows my pitching very well, my feelings very well.'' However, whether the Dodgers have a No. 2 starter to complement Brown is open to debate. Park, 28, was 15-10 with a 3.50 ERA last season with the Dodgers and is on the cusp of being one of the elite pitchers in baseball. Nomo, 33, was 13-10 with a 4.50 ERA for Boston, including a no-hitter against Baltimore. Nomo was a National League rookie of the year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
``The depth of his forkball fork·ball n. Baseball A pitch with the ball placed between the index and middle fingers so that the ball takes a sharp dip near home plate. fork wasn't there in previous years, but it seems to be back,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``If he's able to continue the command of the fastball that he's been able to have throughout his career, he can be devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. .'' Nomo, who was paid $5 million last season, received a $1 million signing bonus and will make $4 million in 2002 in a backloaded contract. Nomo will make $7 million in 2003 and a 2004 option vests if he pitches a combined 375 innings in the first two years of the contract with a $1.5 million buyout. He pitched 388 innings in the last two years. ``The guy has probably got the (most guts) about going out on the mound,'' said Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros, who played three-plus seasons with Nomo. ``When you're out on the field with him, that's something you have to respect. The guy will go out there and throw no matter what.'' CAPTION(S): photo, 2 boxes Photo: Hideo Nomo led the American League in strikeouts last season with the Red Sox. Jeff Zelevansky/Associated Press Box: (1) NOMOMANIA (2) DODGERS BREAKDOWN |
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