Orosco Leaves Dodgers for Padre Guarantee

Veteran reliever Jesse Orosco agreed to terms on a one-year, $800,000 contract with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, bringing an end to his brief Dodger career and shedding more light on the tight financial constraints the Dodgers are working under this winter.

Orosco, the 45-year-old left-hander who went 1-2 with a 3.00 earned-run average in 56 games this season, wanted to finish his career in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers would have welcomed his return.

But the formerly free-spending Dodgers declined to offer a major league contract--even for only $500,000 over the minimum salary--or a roster spot. Orosco got both, as well as a no-trade clause, from San Diego.

Orosco, who came to Dodger camp on minor league contracts the last two years, limited hitters to a .229 average in 2002. He has an 85-78 career record and 3.04 ERA in a major league-record 1,187 games over 22 seasons. He also has limited Barry Bonds to a .160 average (four for 25).

But he will be 46 in 2003, he had a few nagging injuries this season, and those were concerns.

“As close as we are to the [$117-million] luxury tax threshold, we have to make every dollar count,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “We didn’t feel this was worth the risk. We like the player, he was a solid guy, but we think we can replace him.”

The Dodgers have about $95 million committed to 12 players next season.

Among the free agents the Dodgers might consider to replace Orosco are Mike Stanton, Mark Guthrie, Dan Plesac and Jeff Fassero, and Evans said he has a lot of trade possibilities. Alan Meersand, Orosco’s agent, thinks the Dodgers could have saved time and money by re-signing his client.

“It seems peculiar the Dodgers are worried about money, because what Jesse wanted was small in the big scheme of things,” Meersand said. “The difference between his contract and the major league minimum [of $300,000] is only $500,000. That’s like Donald Trump worried about spending $4 or $3 on a sandwich.”

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The Angels added outfielder Robb Quinlan and pitchers Rich Fischer and Bobby Jenks to the 40-man roster, protecting them from next month’s draft of minor league players.

Quinlan, 25, the only one of the three with a chance to make the major league club in spring training, was selected most valuable player in the Pacific Coast League after hitting .333 with 20 home runs and 112 runs batted in at triple-A Salt Lake.

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Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.