LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed two-time batting champion and five-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra to a one-year, $6 million contract.
Rather than shortstop, the Los Angeles Times said Garciaparra is expected to play first base and bat behind cleanup hitter Jeff Kent in an order retooled with the recent additions of shortstop Rafael Furcal and third baseman Bill Mueller.
Garciaparra, 32, has been severely limited by injuries for three of the last five seasons, and chose the hometown Dodgers offer over similar ones from the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros.
Garciaparra broke into the Major Leagues in 1994 with the Boston Red Sox. He has a career .320 batting average and has hit 191 home runs over 1,071 games.
