The Dodgers announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Ben Rowen and left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard to minor-league contracts with invitations to major league spring training camp.
That brings the number of non-roster invitees to 18:
Pitchers (8): Chris Anderson, Erik Bedard, Ryan Buchter, David Huff, Josh Ravin, Ben Rowen, Sergio Santos, Julio Urias
Position players (10): Erisbel Arruebarrena, Buck Britton, Matt Carson, O’Koyea Dickson, Kyle Jensen, Chris O’Brien, Corey Seager, Ali Solis, Darnell Sweeney,Shawn Zarraga
Bedard, 35, joins his sixth organization in the last five years. From 2004-09, the left-hander averaged 24 starts a season and a 120 ERA-plus for the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners. Since then a series of injuries — most prominently to his left shoulder and left knee — have limited Bedard to 97 appearances and 20 victories.
Although his 2014 stats weren’t impressive (4-6, 4.76 ERA with Tampa Bay), Bedard could be in the mix for work as the Dodgers’ fifth starter in case of an injury to one of the top five in camp.
Rowen, 26, made his major-league debut last year with the Texas Rangers and made eight appearances, allowing four runs. He’s pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in five professional seasons, all in the Rangers organization, since being drafted in the 22nd round in 2010. Oh, and he’s got a funky delivery.