Alomar Jr. joins Dodgers for backup duty

By wire services
Published December 11, 2005

LOS ANGELES - Veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers on Saturday and is expected to serve as a backup to young Dioner Navarro.

The 39-year-old Alomar hit .273 for the Rangers last season, getting 35 hits in 128 at-bats and driving in 14 runs.

He began his big-league career with a brief stint with the Padres in 1988 before joining Cleveland, where he spent 11 years before going to the White Sox in 2001.

Alomar had his best season in 1977, with career bests of .324 batting average, 21 homers and 83 RBIs before going 11-of-30 with two homers and 10 RBIs against the Marlins in the World Series.

RED SOX: Without a general manager since Theo Epstein walked away, the team is planning a "restructuring" that could result in two of his former assistants sharing the GM job through next season. The Boston Herald reported on Friday that Ben Cherington, the director of player development, and assistant GM Jed Hoyer will fill the post. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino declined to comment on the report but said that a restructuring "will be one result, to be sure."

REDS: Parts of the estate of former owner Marge Schott were auctioned off and raised $180,700 for the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation. Schott's Reds memorabilia was not for sale, although it will be March 31. Chris Smith bought dog dishes and a dog place mat for $175. "I'm a huge baseball fan," said Smith, 31, who does not own a dog. "I always liked Marge, and I just wanted a couple of her things."

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]