Dodgers sign infielder Jamey Carroll to a two-year deal

LOS ANGELES — The two-time defending National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today agreed to terms with versatile infielder Jamey Carroll on a two-year contract. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

“We are very pleased to add Jamey,” Colletti said. “He provides us with defensive versatility and can also be an asset offensively. He also brings the Dodgers great make up and work ethic.”

Carroll spent the previous two seasons in the American League with the Indians after playing in the National League with the Expos, Nationals and Rockies from 2002-07. Last year, Carroll batted .276 with 53 runs scored in 93 games at second base, third base, left field and right field. The 5’9″ Carroll hit .324 (24-for-74) and drove in 24 runs with runners in scoring position during the 2009 campaign. His .324 mark ranked 18th in the AL among players with at least 80 plate appearances.

The Indiana native has hit .284 in his career against left-handers while batting .348 (32-for-92) as a pinch-hitter. Since getting called up to the big leagues in 2002, his average as a pinch-hitter is the best in baseball over that time (min. 100 plate appearances).

The 35-year-old Carroll has a lifetime fielding percentage of .992 in 425 games at second base. In 2009, Carroll made just one error at second base in 227 total chances, good for a .996 fielding percentage.

In eight Major League seasons, Carroll has a career batting average of .273 with 12 homers, 174 RBI, 369 runs scored, 41 stolen bases, and a .351 on-base percentage in 786 games for the Expos, Nationals, Rockies and Indians. He was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 14th round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft and made his debut on Sept. 11, 2002. His best season came in 2006, when he established career-bests in games (136), average (.300), runs (84), hits (139), doubles (23), triples (5), home runs (5), RBI (36), walks (56) and stolen bases (10) as the primary second baseman for the Rockies.

Carroll has appeared in the postseason just one time, going 0-for-2 with a walk in three plate appearances during the 2007 LCS and World Series with the Rockies. However, it was Carroll’s game-winning sacrifice fly in the 13th inning that scored Matt Holliday in a one-game playoff with San Diego and propelled Colorado to the 2007 postseason.

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