The White Sox, looking to make another addition to their bullpen, have signed right-hander Octavio Dotel to a two-year, $11 million contract, according to a major-league source.
Dotel, 34, is the second major addition to the Whtie Sox relief corps this off-season. The Sox earlier signed right-hander Scott Linebrink for $19 million over four years.
Dotel split 2007 between the Royals and the Braves, going 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA and 11 saves in 33 appearances.
The Braves could be on the verge of not only acquiring the best hitter on the trade market, but one of the best relievers as well. In addition to reaching a preliminary agreement for Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira, the Braves are close to a deal for Royals closer Octavio Dotel, according to major-league sources.
In exchange for Dotel, the Royals would receive right-hander Kyle Davies, according to the Kansas City Star. Davies, 23, is 0-1 with a 4.50 in two starts for Class AAA Richmond after going 4-8 with a 5.76 ERA in 17 starts with the Braves.
The Dotel trade is contingent on the Braves finalizing their deal for Teixeira and left-handed reliever Ron Mahay, according to an industry source.
The Braves, Indians and Dodgers are the three finalists for Dotel, sources say.
Reliever Octavio Dotel followed Gil Meche to the Kansas City Royals’ pitching staff, agreeing Friday to a $5 million, one-year contract. Dotel’s deal allows him to earn about $2.5 million in performance bonuses based on games finished. The 33-year-old right-hander has missed most of the last 1 1/2 seasons because of an elbow injury.
Dotel has a 37-31 record and a 3.75 ERA in eight seasons with the New York Mets, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics and Yankees. He saved a career-high 36 games in 2004 with the Astros and A’s.
Octavio Dotel agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the New York Yankees after beginning last season with Oakland but not pitching past May because of major elbow surgery.
The right-hander was 1-2 with a 3.52 earned run average in 15 games for Oakland in 2005 before being placed on the disabled list May 19 and undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
In his 15 appearances, he limited opposing batters to a .185 average and held right-handed hitters to just three hits in 28 at-bats (.107). He has 481 strikeouts in 389 2-3 innings as reliever since the 2001 season, the most in the majors.