Dodgers Sign Borbon, Mota

The Dodgers signed Pedro Borbon Jr. to a minor league contract Monday, and the 35-year-old veteran was invited to big league camp to compete for the left-handed relief job that has been vacant since Jesse Orosco signed with San Diego in November. The Dodgers also avoided arbitration with reliever Guillermo Mota, signing the right-hander to a one-year, $675,000 contract.

Borbon, who pitched for the Dodgers in 1999 before being traded with Raul Mondesi to Toronto for right fielder Shawn Green, went a combined 4-4 with a 5.36 earned-run average in 72 games for the Blue Jays and Houston Astros last season. He held left-handers to a .240 batting average, but right-handers hit .324.

If Borbon makes the team out of spring training, he will be paid a $750,000 major league salary, but his contract is not guaranteed.

Mota, acquired last spring with outfielder Wilkin Ruan from Montreal for reliever Matt Herges, went 1-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 43 games for the Dodgers, limiting batters to a .202 average.

The Dodgers have four remaining players eligible for arbitration: third baseman Adrian Beltre, infielder Alex Cora and pitchers Odalis Perez and Giovanni Carrara.

-- Mike DiGiovanna