Dodgers Add More Speed With Lofton

Kenny Lofton isn’t used to waiting. He has been an ignition switch his entire 15-year career, stealing 567 bases to go with his 2,142 hits. But the Dodgers have been so active in the free-agent market that Lofton had to wait nearly two days after he agreed to terms to get a proper announcement out of his new team.

The hubbub over Nomar Garciaparra finally over, Lofton was introduced in a conference call Tuesday. He will bat second and play center field, joining shortstop Rafael Furcal, third baseman Bill Mueller, reserve catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. and Garciaparra as new Dodgers acquired via free agency.

The Dodgers also signed first baseman Hee-Seop Choi to a one-year, $725,000 deal hours before the deadline to offer him arbitration or grant him free agency. Left-handed reliever Kelly Wunsch and journeyman third baseman Chris Truby signed non-roster contracts. Wunsch, who was the Dodger primary situational left-hander until he suffered a freak ankle injury July 7, will be paid $650,000 if he makes the team.

Reserve catcher Jason Phillips, utility player Mike Edwards and minor league first baseman Brian Myrow are free agents because the Dodgers did not offer them contracts by the deadline.

There may be more roster moves on the horizon. General Manager Ned Colletti said he has enough payroll flexibility to sign a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher such as Jeff Weaver, who, as expected, rejected a Dodger arbitration offer.

“For the right pitcher, we could do what we need to do, yes,” Colletti said. “We absolutely need a pitcher, and I’d like to add two.”

Weaver, who led the team with 224 innings and 14 victories last season, is seeking a deal at least as large as the four-year, $37.5-million contract Jarrod Washburn signed with the Seattle Mariners on Monday. Weaver and Washburn are clients of agent Scott Boras.

“I’m no more optimistic or pessimistic about signing Weaver than before,” Colletti said. “It all depends on whether he wants to pitch here and what Scott wants him to be paid. It’s the typical formula. I just know the days are getting shorter to do it.”

Brett Tomko, 8-15 with the San Francisco Giants last season, is another possibility, less expensive and probably less effective than Weaver. Colletti said he has offers out to at least two other free-agent pitchers.

The plan for the left-handed hitting Lofton is to play as often as possible in center, although he probably will rest periodically when the opposing pitcher is left-handed. Not many 38-year-olds merit a 33% raise, but Lofton, who was paid $2.9 million last year and is coming off his best season since at least 2000, signed a one-year, $3.85-million deal that includes a $350,000 deferred signing bonus and modest performance incentives based on plate appearances.

“Every day, I like to play this game,” Lofton said. “I’ve always been a guy who can impact the team in so many aspects -- defensively, offensively, on the base paths, in the dugout. As long as I’m out there I feel good about it.”

Lofton batted .335 in 367 at-bats for the Philadelphia Phillies and stole 22 bases in 25 attempts. His career stolen base total is the highest among active players, and his lifetime batting average is .299. He has won four Gold Gloves, but none since 1996, and is a six-time All-Star, but hasn’t been selected since 1999. “His skills are still very similar to the way they were earlier in his career,” Colletti said. “He knows how to play.”

Lofton helped the San Francisco Giants to the World Series in 2002 after being acquired at the trading deadline. Colletti was the Giant assistant general manager at the time. “His impact was immeasurable,” Colletti said. “Without Kenny Lofton, the Giants do not end up in the postseason and the World Series.”

Lofton has been to the playoffs nine times with five teams, has appeared in two World Series and has 336 postseason at-bats. The five free agents signed by the Dodgers have made 27 postseason appearances.

In a departure from former general manager Paul DePodesta, Colletti clearly values speed.

The Dodgers were next to last in the National League in stolen bases and success rate last season. Furcal, who had 46 stolen bases, and Lofton together stole more bases than the entire Dodger roster (58).

“The game itself is going to be more speed-oriented, more fundamental-oriented, with fewer three-run home runs,” he said. “That’s what I predict, anyway.”

Choi is capable of hitting home runs -- he had 15 in 320 at-bats last season -- but he will back up Garciaparra and be used as a pinch-hitter. Fairly or not, Choi came to represent DePodesta’s affinity for patient power hitters with low salaries. DePodesta wanted Choi to play every day, but Manager Jim Tracy was never comfortable with him.

Choi, 26, explored options outside the Dodgers but couldn’t find a starting job or a multiyear offer from a desirable team. Since coming to the Dodgers from the Florida Marlins in a July 2004 trade, he has said frequently that he enjoys living in L.A. and wants to stay. Last season, he batted .253 with a .336 on-base percentage, a .446 slugging percentage and 42 runs batted in.

Phillips was acquired during spring training from the New York Mets for pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii and was handed the job as catcher when slumping David Ross was traded to Pittsburgh. Phillips had 55 RBIs but lost his position to rookie Dioner Navarro in July because he had trouble throwing out runners.