Nakamura Takes His Chance

Feeling the lure of Dodger blue, third baseman Norihiro Nakamura walked away from a contract that guaranteed him $5 million a season in Japan for nothing more than the chance to make the Dodger roster out of spring training.

“The main thing for me is the challenge of it, to do something that money cannot buy,” Nakamura said through an interpreter Thursday after signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers. “I’m going to do my best to make this team.”

The 13-year veteran, an eight-time All-Star with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, said he has wanted to play for the Dodgers since working out with them last year in Vero Beach, Fla., while rehabilitating a knee injury. Nakamura became eligible to join major league teams after requesting to be released from his contract with the Buffaloes, which had two years remaining.

The Dodgers outbid three teams for the rights to Nakamura, said his agent, Don Nomura, including one that had interest in inserting him in its starting lineup.

Nakamura, 31, is expected to compete with Jose Valentin and Antonio Perez at third, though he also has experience at first base and shortstop.

“We certainly wouldn’t have signed him if we didn’t think he could contribute to our major league team,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said.

Nomura said his client, who returned to Japan after backing out of a two-year, $7-million contract with the New York Mets in 2002, would be willing to go to triple-A Las Vegas if he did not make the Dodger roster out of spring training.

“It’s really remarkable, the sacrifices he’s making to chase his dream,” DePodesta said. “This is definitely where he wanted to be, and we’re excited about that.”

Nakamura, the Buffaloes’ all-time home run leader, averaged 42 homers and 119 runs batted in from 2000 to 2002 before torn cartilage in his right knee curtailed his production the last two years. He hit .274 with 19 homers and 66 RBIs in 105 games last season and acknowledged Thursday that he had developed bad habits at the plate while attempting to protect himself from further injury.

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Right-hander Darren Dreifort is scheduled to undergo surgery on his pitching shoulder Feb. 15, his fourth operation of the off-season.

Dreifort, entering the final season of a five-year, $55-million contract, had surgery on his left knee Jan. 6.

He had procedures on his hip in September and right knee in October.

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Veteran Talent

Norihiro Nakamura was an eight-time All-Star with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes during his 13-year career in Japan:

*--* Year Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBIs BB K Avg Slg OBP 1992 11 27 4 6 1 0 2 5 0 8 222 481 222 1993 8 9 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 4 111 111 250 1994 101 192 23 54 13 1 8 36 19 49 281 484 343 1995 129 470 62 107 19 1 20 64 51 92 228 400 307 1996 110 411 60 112 15 1 26 67 39 89 273 504 341 1997 128 455 54 109 22 3 19 68 54 105 240 426 325 1998 132 481 74 125 14 1 32 90 74 114 260 493 363 1999 135 514 83 134 23 0 31 95 79 116 261 486 362 2000 127 476 82 132 26 0 39 110 80 112 277 578 381 2001 140 525 109 168 25 0 46 132 104 106 320 630 434 2002 140 511 87 150 27 1 42 115 86 136 294 597 400 2003 117 381 54 90 14 1 23 67 72 96 236 459 357 2004 105 387 59 106 16 1 19 66 73 88 274 468 390 Tota 1,383 4,839 752 1,294 215 10 307 2,450 733 1,115 267 506 366 ls

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