Dodgers Sign RHP Joe Mays

In the 1950s, so the story goes, Roy Campanella was injured and during his down-time the club send him on a scouting trip. He looked in on a young outfielder in Alabama and sent back an very enthusiastic report. When a 'real' scout was sent to take another look, he reported that the youngster "couldn't hit a curve." Thus Willy Mays signed with the Giants and as they say, the rest is history.

Obviously the Dodgers didn't sign Willy (how many 17-year-olds hit the curve?) but they did finally sign Mays, Joe Mays, who was 17-13, .305 for the Minnesota Twins in 2001 and has has gone 18-31 in games since that big season. He will attend spring training as a non-roster invitee as the Dodgers continue to look for another Jose Lima.

Now 31, the righthander has posted a 48-70, 4.91 career record, starting 156 of his 206 major league games.

After his 17 win season, he signed a $20 million, four-year contract. But the Twins declined an $8.5 million option for the 2006 season, instead buying him out for $500,000. He moved to Cincinnati and then on to Kansas City and was 0-5, 7.4 in 13 games and six starts.

If he makes the 40-man roster, he will receive $600,000 and could make another $200,000 in performance incentives.