Bohanon Jumps to the Rockies

Free-agent pitcher Brian Bohanon, a pleasant surprise in 1998 while pitching for the Dodgers, agreed to a multiyear contract with the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

The Dodgers lost the husky left-hander to their National League West rival because the Rockies offered Bohanon, a seven-year journeyman, a stunning three-year, $10-million deal--about $4 million more than the Dodgers were prepared to spend.

Bohanon, whose career record is 25-30, will receive about a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $1.5 million next season, $2.5 million in 2000 and $3 million in 2001, baseball sources said. The package also includes about $1 million in incentives that Bohanon is expected to easily earn.

Contacted at his off-season home in Houston, Bohanon said the Rockies simply “overwhelmed” him.

“The offer that the Rockies made was really incredible,” said Bohanon, 30, who made $350,000 last season. “The Dodgers also made a real generous offer, but there were a lot of things I had to take into consideration about the Rockies’ offer.

“The Dodgers gave me the opportunity to go out and show what I could do as a starter. I’ll always appreciate that.”

Meanwhile, the Dodgers refocused their efforts on signing Kevin Brown or Randy Johnson, who are considered the top starting pitchers in the free-agent class. Contrary to reports Saturday, the Dodgers did not make an offer to free-agent slugger Mo Vaughn.

Moreover, signing Vaughn is no longer at the top of the Dodgers’ off-season to-do list, team sources said. The Dodgers are still interested in Vaughn, but there is growing support in the organization to retain incumbent first baseman Eric Karros.

General Manager Kevin Malone will not make an offer to Brown or Johnson, sources said, until after the upcoming general managers’ meetings in Naples, Fla., beginning Monday.

The Dodgers offered Bohanon a two-year contract plus an option year for about $6 million guaranteed, club sources said. They were also prepared to include incentives that could push the total package to about $7.5 million.

In 14 starts for the Dodgers, Bohanon went 5-7 with a 2.40 earned-run average in the second half after being acquired from the New York Mets for reliever Greg McMichael on July 10.

He established personal bests by pitching 151 2/3 innings and striking out 111 while going 7-11 with a 2.67 ERA overall. Bohanon gave up fewer than three runs in nine starts, and right-handers batted .205 against him--fourth best among National League pitchers.

But he has a career 4.72 ERA and had been considered, at best, a spot starter until his Dodger experience. The Rockies are counting on Bohanon to be an effective No. 3 starter.

“The Rockies and the Dodgers, to a point, felt like I could be successful,” Bohanon said. “Every team needs pitching these days, it’s hard to come by, and I believe in what I can do.”

Word of Bohanon’s deal with the Rockies stirred concern among general managers about its impact on the free-agent market. Brown, 33, is seeking at least a six-year deal at about $14 million annually. Johnson, 35, wants at least a three-year, $36-million contract.

Their agents watched the Bohanon situation closely.

“Kevin Brown has proven that he improves any team he joins, and he does it quickly,” said Scott Boras, who represents Brown. “The Dodgers are a great organization and I’ve known Kevin [Malone] for a long time, but everyone understands the situation. We’re looking for certain things and we know the market is there. No one is going to get any discounts.”

Contacted at home Saturday night, Malone acknowledged that Bohanon’s contract turns up the heat in the Brown-Johnson sweepstakes.

“If this is true, it certainly shows where things are going,” Malone said. “But I’m very happy for Brian Bohanon and his family. He’s a young man who has had a difficult career at times, and he has had to overcome some things. But he pitched effectively in the second half, and timing is always important.”