Dodgers sign Jeff Weaver to minor-league deal

He’ll compete for a bullpen spot in spring training, NOT for the fifth spot in the rotation. Weaver’s most recent major-league relief appearance, you may recall, was a rather infamous one. It came in Game 4 of th 2003 World Series for the Yankees. He had pitched so poorly that season that Joe Torre hadn’t used him in several weeks, and he wound up giving up a walkoff homer to Florida’s Alex Gonzalez in extra innings, tying the Series at 2-2. The Yankees didn’t win another game. What you also may recall is that he did come back from that debacle to become a pretty good starter for the Dodgers in 2004 and 2005 before falling on hard times later on. He didn’t pitch in the majors last year. If he makes the club, he’ll get a straight $500,000 base salary with no additional incentives. The Dodgers still would like to bolster their bullpen with one more veteran reliever. Among those high on their list are Dennys Reyes, Jamey Wright and Will Ohman. (Oh, man, they’re looking at HIM?) Sorry, bad joke.