Quote:
Free agent center fielder Juan Pierre has agreed to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a source told ESPN.com on Monday. The deal is believed to be worth $44-45 million.
The deal will become complete when Pierre passes a physical exam, the source said.
Pierre, 29, is a .303 hitter over seven seasons with Colorado, Florida and the Chicago Cubs. He led the National League with 204 hits in 2006.
"He's another guy with great qualities as a human being, like Nomar [Garciaparra]," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told the Associated Press.
Colletti wouldn't confirm the deal with Pierre.
"It's either done or it's not done and right now it's not done," Colletti told AP.
The San Francisco Giants were also interested in Pierre, and had offered him a four-year deal in the $32-34 million range, a source said.
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Dang, first Nomar and now Pierre, the Dodgers have really gotten to it in the free agency market thus far. This may end up being a good move seeing as Pierre can add 50+ stolen bases per year, however it might have been a bit unnecessary with the team already having decent speedsters in Furcal, Either, and Garciaparra. If I were Colletti, I'd be more focused in drawing power as the team really cannot rely on an aging Jeff Kent as the main source for the long ball. I believe Carlos Lee would be the perfect guy to pursue in such a situation as the Dodgers.