The Los Angeles Dodgers said Wednesday they have signed All-Star closer Takashi Saito to a one-year contract worth $2 million, plus $200,000 in performance bonuses. "I feel good," Saito said of the contract that doubled his salary shortly before spring training begins Friday. Saito, who turns 38 on Thursday, joined the Dodgers on a minor league contract and set a club rookie record with 24 saves in 2006. He was 2-1 with a stellar 1.40 ERA and 39 saves last season. When asked by U.S. media to comment on the salary gap between him and new Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, whose three-year contract will reportedly pay him $35 million, Saito said, "Kuroda's pay is based on what he achieved in Japan. The Dodgers gave me a chance to pitch and I finally got to this point from a minor league contract," Saito added.
