Dodgers May Bid for Nakamura

The Dodgers are considering submitting a bid to sign Japanese third baseman Norihiro Nakamura, a 13-year Japanese League veteran and the all-time home run hitter for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.

“We know the player well, and we are considering our options,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said.

Nakamura, 31, has been posted by his current team, the Orix Buffaloes, meaning major league teams have four days to enter bids. The team making the highest bid wins negotiating rights.

Although Nakamura has hit 307 home runs, batted .267 and won four Gold Gloves for Kintetsu, scouts say he is projected as an average major league third baseman at best. His workouts in Santa Ana during the winter meetings were heavily scouted, but interest in him appeared modest.

Playing in the major leagues has intrigued Nakamura. He backed out of a two-year, $7-million contract with the New York Mets in 2002, returning to Japan and signing a six-year contract with Kintetsu. Last year, he spent part of spring training with the Dodgers and has expressed an interest in playing for the team.

He told a Japanese newspaper that if he does not make a major league team this spring, he would continue to play in Japan.

-- Steve Henson

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Backup catcher Josh Paul avoided arbitration with the Angels by agreeing to a one-year, $450,000 contract that gives him the chance to earn an additional $75,000 if he plays in 90 games.

Paul batted .243 with two homers and drove in 10 runs in 46 games with the Angels last season, when he earned $335,000. He had requested $625,000 in arbitration; the team had offered $400,000.

Paul, 29, would earn $15,000 bonuses for playing in 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 games. He was the last Angel player in arbitration.

From Associated Press