Mark Sweeney agrees to terms with Dodgers

LOS ANGELES – Pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney, former star at the University of Maine, agreed to terms of a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Sweeney, a 38-year-old left-handed hitter, led the majors with 24 pinch hits last season. Overall, he had 23 hits including eight doubles and two homers in 90 at-bats and drove in 10 runs for the San Francisco Giants, and went 9-for-33 with three RBIs after being traded to the Dodgers on Aug. 9.

Sweeney’s 163 pinch hits are the second-most in big league history behind Lenny Harris.

Sweeney has a .260 career batting average in 13 seasons with St. Louis, San Diego, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Colorado, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He can play first base and the outfield.

The Dodgers open spring training under new manager Joe Torre later this week at Vero Beach, Fla.