LA Dodgers Sign Brandon McCarthy, End Brian Wilson’s Tenure

By Cheri Cheng - 17 Dec '14 10:01AM

The Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Brandon McCarthy have finalized a four-year deal worth $48 million on Tuesday. The contract will end reliever Brian Wilson's tenure.

"There was nothing that didn't intrigue me about the Dodgers," McCarthy, 31, said reported by USA Today Sports. "I grew up 10 miles from the stadium. The Dodgers were what I knew, who I looked up to as a kid."

McCarthy will receive a $6 million signing bonus. For the 2015 and 2016 seasons, he will make $11 million each year. His annual salary will fall to $10 million for his last two seasons. McCarthy joins starters Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and will most likely take the fourth spot in the rotation.

"It was a very big thing for me, because having that stop-start identity with each organization, it weighs on you," McCarthy said in regards to moving around the league quite often. In 2005-06, he was with the Chicago White Sox. In 2007-09, he played for Texas and in 2011-12, he started for the Oakland Athletics before moving to Arizona and then New York.

He added that "to have a chance to actually make a name for myself and actually leave an identity and a long-term reputation with a team."

During his run with the New York Yankees in 2014, McCarthy made 14 starts. He went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA. Prior to the Yankees, he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks where he went 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts. In his 2014 season, McCarthy reached his first ever 200-innings pitched mark in nine years. He also added two miles-per-hour to his fastball.

"That's pretty unheard of for a starting pitcher his age, which speaks to his ability to strengthen his shoulder and make himself more durable," said general manager, Farhan Zaidi according to MLB.com. "We feel really good about him turning the corner and being able to carry the workload into the future."

Wilson, who was designated for assignment, will become a free agent within 10 days if he is not traded. The Dodgers would then be responsible for Wilson's $10 million salary.

"Every move we make is about making the best team, and at this point we didn't feel he was one of the best seven reliever options," Zaidi said. "That's our first and foremost consideration."

Wilson finished the 2014 season 2-4 with an ERA of 4.66.