Perez Earns a Big Raise to $3.4 Million

Dodger pitcher Odalis Perez’s breakthrough season was rewarded with a hefty raise Thursday, as the 24-year-old left-hander agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.4-million contract, avoiding arbitration.

The Dodgers also signed injury-plagued left-hander Wilson Alvarez to a minor league contract, they are expected to announce the signing of utility player Terry Shumpert to a minor league deal today, and they worked late into Thursday evening trying to come to terms with arbitration-eligible third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Perez, who made $625,000 in base salary last season, was unable to earn a full-time job on any of Atlanta’s rotation-rich teams from 1998 to 2001.

But last winter’s trade from the Braves to the Dodgers -- Perez was considered a secondary component in the deal that sent Gary Sheffield to Atlanta for Brian Jordan -- provided an opportunity, and Perez made the most of it, going 15-10 with a 3.00 earned-run average in 32 starts.

Perez came within one bad-hop single of a perfect game in a 10-0 win at Chicago on April 26, facing the minimum 27 batters.

A National League All-Star , Perez took a perfect game into the seventh inning at Shea Stadium on Aug. 17 before giving up a one-out walk to Rey Ordonez and a two-run home run to Mike Piazza.

Perez, suffering from fatigue, lost his first four decisions after the All-Star break before skipping a start in late July. He responded by going 5-3 with a 2.42 ERA over his last 11 starts.

“It’s always nice to see these guys get their first big contracts,” said agent Scott Boras, who negotiated a one-year, $3.875-million deal for Angel left-hander Jarrod Washburn on Wednesday. “It’s the culmination of a great season.”

Alvarez’s big contract is behind him. The 32-year-old signed a five-year, $35-million deal with Tampa Bay before the 1998 season and was a total bust, injuries limiting him to 76 games with the Devil Rays.

Alvarez, who has an 88-80 career record and 4.03 ERA, sat out the 2000 and 2001 seasons because of surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, and he also had elbow and rib-cage injuries. He returned in 2002, going 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 23 games, 10 starts.

A Dodger scout liked the way Alvarez threw in September, so General Manager Dan Evans made a low-risk investment -- Alvarez will make $750,000 if he makes the team, but his contract is not guaranteed. The Dodgers envision Alvarez possibly filling the role vacated by Omar Daal, who could start or relieve.

Shumpert, a 35-year-old who is a second baseman by trade but can also play left field, third base and shortstop, hit .235 with six home runs and 21 runs batted in for Colorado last season.

Beltre, who made $2.3 million last season, probably will receive a one-year deal in the $3.75-million range, but if he doesn’t come to terms by today, his agent and the Dodgers will exchange salary figures to begin the arbitration process.