Gott Avoids Arbitration; Blyleven Signs With Angels

Dodger relief pitcher Jim Gott avoided an arbitration hearing Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,125,000.

Gott, a 32-year-old right-hander, asked for $2.4 million while the Dodgers offered $1.85 million.

Gott went 4-3 with a 2.96 earned-run average and two saves in 55 games last season, when he was paid $1,725,000.

The Dodgers have seven players left in arbitration: relief pitchers Tim Crews and Jay Howell; infielders Juan Samuel, Mike Sharperson and Jeff Hamilton, and outfielders Kal Daniels and Stan Javier.

Bert Blyleven, whose contract was bought out by the Angels after last season, has agreed to a minor league contract and will report to spring training as a nonroster player.

Blyleven, who has won 279 games, missed last season after undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder in April. He will be 41 on opening day, April 6.

Blyleven cannot be put on the Angels’ roster before May 1. If he eventually signs a major league contract, he would earn $300,000, with the possibility of an additional $700,000 in incentives based on innings pitched and other performance clauses.

In other moves, the Angels hired John McNamara as a special assignment scout and catching instructor and announced that former Dodger outfielder Jose Gonzalez has agreed to a minor league contract.