Dodgers Close to Deal With Zeile

The Dodgers, who have spent the off-season searching for a third baseman and run producer, appear to have found both with the expected acquisition of free-agent third baseman Todd Zeile.

The Dodgers and Zeile have nearly completed negotiations on a three-year deal, expected to be concluded after Dec. 7, according to sources involved in the talks.

The Dodgers and Zeile have agreed to wait until after Dec. 7 to sign the deal so the the Dodgers can avoid giving draft picks to the Baltimore Orioles as compensation. Zeile has a clause in his contract that prevents the Orioles from offering salary arbitration by the Dec. 7 deadline, which would preclude the Dodgers from having to surrender a No. 1 draft choice.

“I’m excited about the prospect of playing in L.A.,” Zeile said Friday, “but I don’t want to get too excited until the contract’s done. But everything looks good. It’s a great team and a great situation. This will fulfill a childhood dream.”

Zeile, 31, who played with Dodger first baseman Eric Karros at UCLA, is a career .263 batter and hit 25 homers and drove in 99 runs last season for the Philadelphia Phillies and Orioles. He also batted .364 with three homers and five RBIs in the postseason for the Orioles.