Dodgers sign Shawn Estes

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The Dodgers, in search of candidates for their starting rotation, signed veteran left-hander Shawn Estes to a minor league contract that could pay him as much as $1.55 million.

Estes, 35, went 2-3 with a 4.74 earned-run average in nine games for the Padres last season. He has pitched for every National League West club except the Dodgers.

He pitched for the Giants from 1995 to 2001 -- he went 19-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 1997 -- but has pitched for six clubs since then. In 2004, he posted his only winning record since leaving San Francisco, going 15-8 with a 5.84 ERA for the Rockies.

Estes gets $550,000 if he makes the Dodgers in spring training, with various incentive bonuses for games started. If he starts 30 games, he would make the maximum $1 million in bonuses.

--Bill Shaikin