PHILADELPHIA — Right-hander Rudy Seanez and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized a $400,000, one-year contract today.

Infielder Wes Helms was designated for assignment to make room for Seanez. The Phillies have 10 days to either trade Helms or put him on the waiver wire. Helms is due $2.9 million this season, making it difficult to trade him.

Helms opened last season as Philadelphia's starting third baseman. He ended up splitting time with Greg Dobbs and Abraham Nunez. Each started at least 50 games. Helms batted .246 with five homers and 39 RBIs in 280 at-bats.

Seanez adds depth to a bullpen that allowed seven runs in four innings in Monday's 11-6 loss to Washington. Tom Gordon, filling in as the closer while Brad Lidge is on the disabled list, gave up five runs while retiring just one batter after entering a tie game.

Seanez was released by the Dodgers last week after spending parts of three seasons with Los Angeles. He signed a $550,000 one-year contract shortly before the start of spring training and could have earned as much as $1.3 million in salary and bonuses had he stayed with the Dodgers. Instead, he got $135,246 in termination pay.

He can earn $750,000 in performance bonuses with the Phillies: $50,000 each for 25, 30, 35 and 40 games; $75,000 each for 45 and 50 games; and $100,000 each for 55, 60, 65 and 70 games

The 39-year-old Seanez was 6-3 with a 3.79 ERA and one save in a career-high 73 games for the Dodgers last season. Seanez first pitched for the Dodgers in 1994-95. He has also played for Cleveland, San Diego, Atlanta, Texas, Boston, Kansas City and Florida.

Overall, Seanez is 36-26 with a 4.15 ERA and 12 saves in 502 appearances — all as a reliever — over 16 seasons. Seanez had his best season with the Padres in 2005. He was 7-1 with a 2.69 ERA in 57 games.