True Blue L.A.: Dodgers Announce Darren Dreifort Signing at $3m discount

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that they will re-sign Darren Dreifort to nearly the same contract he signed before the 2001 season, this one paying him $52,079,999 over 5 years.  When asked how he could manage such a move given the tight payroll constraints from the McCourts, Ned Colletti responded, “Well all the players receiving deferred money kind of felt sorry for Drei, and figured that since they’re due some money when they aren’t playing baseball, they would be generous and put that money towards giving Dreifort a chance to play.”

“It’s a great win for the club, too.  If Dreifort throws an inning, then the club actually gets something for all that money over the course of the next five years.”

Dreifort will get paid thanks to generous donations from the following players over the next five years:

Total: $52,079,999 over 5 years

The $52 million is the amount the Dodgers deferred to various players during the McCourt era. None of this money was used to sign home grown talent like Matt Kemp to an extension. Its all free agent money.