LOS ANGELES (AP) - Free-agent reliever Guillermo Mota is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers, pending a physical examination.
The 35-year-old right-hander has agreed to terms with the Dodgers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.
The Dodgers need help for a bullpen that has lost Takashi Saito, Joe Beimel, Chan Ho Park and Scott Proctor during the offseason.
Mota had a 5-6 record with a 4.11 ERA in 58 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He had an ERA of 2.60 while pitching for the Dodgers for 2 1/2 seasons, mostly as a setup man for closer Eric Gagne, before being traded to the Florida Marlins with catcher Paul Lo Duca for starter Brad Penny in a trade deadline deal in 2004.
The Mets traded Mota to the Brewers for catcher Johnny Estrada following the 2007 season. Mota was 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA for the Mets that year after serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He was 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA with Cleveland and the Mets in 2006.
