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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:30 p.m., Monday, January 26, 2009

MLB: Dodgers finalize $1 million deal with Ausmus

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Veteran catcher Brad Ausmus and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a one-year, $1 million contract Monday.

The parties agreed to terms last week, and the three-time Gold Glove winner needed to take a physical. He can earn an additional $350,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.

Ausmus spent the past eight seasons with Houston and batted .218 with three homers and 24 RBIs in 81 games last year. He will back up All-Star catcher Russell Martin in Los Angeles.

Ausmus, who turns 40 in April, has a career batting average of .251 with 79 homers and 596 RBIs in 1,914 career games with San Diego, Detroit and Houston.

Ausmus makes his offseason home in Del Mar, about 100 miles south of Los Angeles.