The Dodgers have signed catcher Gary Bennett to a 1-year, $850,000 contract to back up Russell Martin. Bennett played in 59 games last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and he was 39 for 155 (.252 avg, .621 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 2 homers and 17 RBIs. Bennett has now played in 577 games in his major league career and he is 404 for 1,669 (.242 avg, .630 OPS) with 140 runs scored, 21 homers and 188 RBIs. Bennett was signed by the Dodgers despite his name being on the Mitchell Report so he could have an off season due to the fact that he will have to stay clean.

The Dodgers have signed outfielder John Ford-Griffin and catcher Danny Ardoin to minor league contracts and they both will have a decent chance of making the Dodgers Opening Day Roster. Ford-Griffin used to be a stellar prospect when he was with the Blue Jays but they never gave him an opportunity to show what he could do there. He played in 6 games last season for the Blue Jays and he was 3 for 10 (.300 avg, 1.129 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. He has now played in 13 games in his major league career and he is 7 for 23 (.304 avg, 1.066 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 9 RBIs. The Dodgers don’t have a legit backup catcher so Danny Ardoin could have a chance to make the Dodgers as Russell Martin’s backup. He last played in the majors in 2006 and he has a reputation as a good defender that can’t hit. He has played in 141 games in his major league career and he is 75 for 372 (.202 avg, .604 OPS).

The Dodgers have decided to give 5 pitchers a chance in Spring Training to make the Dodgers Opening Day Roster. They are Tanyon Sturtze, Mike Koplove, Brian Falkenborg, Greg Jones and lefty Brian Shackelford. Sturtze did not pitch in the majors last season. He has pitched in 269 games (84 starts) in his major league career and he is 40-44 with 3 saves, a 5.21 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Mike Koplove had a cup of coffee last season for the Cleveland Indians. He pitched in 5 games for the Tribe and he was 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has now pitched in 222 games in his major league career and he sports a 15-7 record, with 2 saves, a 3.82 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Brian Falkenborg pitched in 16 games last season for the Cardinals and he was 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. He has now pitched in 39 games in his major league career and he is 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Greg Jones worked in 9 games last season for the Angels and he was 0-0 with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. He has now pitched in 38 games in his major league career and he is 0-0 with a 5.48 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Lefty Brian Shackelford last pitched in the majors in 2006 for the Reds. He has now pitched in 63 games in his major league career and he is 2-0 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Shackelford and Koplove will likely have the best chances of this group to earn a spot in the Dodgers bullpen in 2008.

The Dodgers decided to non-tender lefty starter/reliever Mark Hendrickson making him an unrestricted free agent. Hendrickson pitched in 39 games last season for the Dodgers and he was 4-8 with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Hendrickson has now pitched in 179 games in his major league career and he is 43-55 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. With pitching being so scarce around the major leagues Hendrickson should have no problem finding a new job.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Hiroki Kuroda. The 32-year old righty pitched 26 games in Japan last season and he was 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. In his Japanese career, Kuroda has pitched in 271 games (74 complete games) and he is 103-89 with 1 save, a 3.69 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Most project Kuroda to be a back of the rotation starter in the majors as his stuff is not electric.