Unsigned Deals Aren’t a Concern

General Manager Ned Colletti said Tuesday that Nomar Garciaparra and Kenny Lofton are “technically signed players,” and the fact that they haven’t actually signed their contracts “is of zero concern.”

“I have a letter of agreement from their agents,” Colletti said. “That happened before we announced anything. That’s the way it is with any player.”

Agents and baseball executives said Tuesday that for convenience, it is common for players to wait until they report to spring training to sign their contracts. However, Garciaparra and Lofton have been in Los Angeles during much of the off-season. Both players, who were free agents and agreed to terms with the Dodgers in December, participated in a Dodger publicity caravan last week.

Both players are hashing out minor sticking points in their deals. In recent years, clubs are broadening language in contracts to cover the marketing and personal-appearance requirements of players. Agents are taking more time to study it.

Players don’t begin to draw their salaries until the season starts. Signing bonuses are paid right away, but neither Garciaparra nor Lofton has a bonus due this year.

Contract terms for both players were processed by major league officials and the players’ union before Christmas.

Garciaparra is guaranteed $6 million and would earn $500,000 in performance bonuses for every 25 plate appearances beginning at 400 and ending at 575. Half of the performance bonuses would be deferred without interest. Garciaparra will donate $25,000 to the Dodgers Dream Foundation but his personal appearance requirements are unclear.

Lofton will be paid a salary of $3.5 million and receive a bonus of $350,000, which is deferred without interest. He would get $50,000 for every 50 plate appearances beginning at 350 and ending at 450. Lofton’s deal stipulates he will make a charitable donation at his discretion.

*

Colletti, Manager Grady Little and most of the coaches are new to the Dodgers, so Billy DeLury was asked to provide a brief history of Vero Beach and Dodgertown during a staff meeting Tuesday night.

DeLury was the team’s traveling secretary for several decades and is currently Vin Scully’s personal assistant.

Colletti, who was part of the San Francisco Giant front office the last 11 years, spent his first night in Dodgertown on Monday.

“I got up this morning, looked out my window and said, ‘How about this? How special is this place?’ ” he said.