Major League Baseball

Dodgers, League ink three-year deal

Published Oct. 30, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Dodgers are bringing Brandon League back to their bullpen, signing the free agent right-hander to a $22.5-million, three-year deal on Tuesday.

League, acquired by the Dodgers from the Seattle Mariners at the July trade deadline, went 2-1 with six saves and a 2.30 ERA in 28 appearances with Los Angeles. He was especially effective over the final 1 1/2 months of the season, posting a 0.55 ERA in 15 appearances in September and October, sixth-lowest in the National League during that stretch.

''He's somebody we really thought we needed to have here and to build a bullpen,'' Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.

League was 2-6 with 15 saves and a 3.13 ERA in 74 games with the Dodgers and Seattle this season.

Colletti said League will be the designated closer next season.

League has saved 52 games, finished 99, and posted a 2.97 ERA in 139 appearances over the last two seasons. Overall, he is 19-28 with 60 saves and a 3.60 ERA in 377 appearances in his nine-year major league career with Toronto (2004-09), Seattle and the Dodgers. He was an AL All-Star last year.

The Dodgers had been focused on re-signing League since late in the season, having first discussed him with Seattle a year ago.

''It's always better to get somebody you know,'' Colletti said, calling the free-agent market for relievers ''relatively thin.''