Scott Kazmir agrees with Dodgers on 3-year, $48 million deal

Free agent left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir has found a new home, reportedly agreeing to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday on a three-year contract, per Ken Gurnick. According to Dylan Hernandez, the deal is for $48 million, and Jon Morosi reports that there is an opt-out after the first year of the deal.

The southpaw was 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts for the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros in 2015, with 155 strikeouts and 59 walks in 183 innings.

The Astros acquired Kazmir on July 23 for the stretch run, making their first postseason appearance in a decade. Kazmir was 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA in 13 starts for Houston, with 54 strikeouts and 24 walks in 73 1/3 innings. He got a no-decision in his only playoff start, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals.

Kazmir was rated as the 14th-best free agent on the market this offseason by Grant Brisbee of SB Nation.

After pitching in independent ball in 2012, Kazmir found his way back to the majors in 2013 with the Cleveland Indians, and over the last three years he has averaged 31 starts, 177 innings, 160 strikeouts and 11 wins per season while posting a 3.54 ERA and 109 ERA+.

Kazmir, who turns 32 in January, is 98-90 with a 3.96 ERA in 272 career games, including 271 starts in parts of 11 seasons, with the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, Indians, A’s and Astros. He made three All-Star teams, the last in 2014 with Oakland.

Because he was traded during the season, Kazmir wasn’t eligible to receive a qualifying offer from Houston, meaning the Dodgers won’t have to forfeit a 2016 draft pick. Kazmir also serves as the rotation replacement for Hisashi Iwakuma, whom the Dodgers signed to a three-year, $45 million pact only to see him head back to the Seattle Mariners after a failed physical interrupted the process.

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