Dodgers Finally Sign Dreifort for $1.3 Million

After talking it over with Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice president, Darren Dreifort on Tuesday decided to accept the club’s offer of $1.3 million.

Dreifort, a right-handed reliever, was the second pick in the June amateur draft. He has spent the last couple of weeks trying to decide whether to sign with the Dodgers or return for his senior year at Wichita State.

“I was pretty much tired of sitting around and waiting for things to happen,” Dreifort said. “I just think it was about time that things got going.”

Dreifort is expected to advance quickly, but the Dodgers, holding to policy, would not offer Dreifort a three-year major league contract, a point that stalled negotiations for some time. John Dreifort, Darren’s father, handled negotiations instead of an agent so that Dreifort’s NCAA eligibility would not be jeopardized if an agreement was not reached.

In addition to a major league contract, John Dreifort was hoping to get a signing bonus of at least $1.55 million for his son. The Dodgers’ first offer to Dreifort was $600,000.

Dreifort was 11-1 with a 2.28 earned-run average and four saves for Wichita State last season. He will work out with the Dodgers here next week before reporting to the Instructional League in Arizona. He is also invited to the major league spring training camp.

The only unsigned first-round pick is Georgia Tech catcher Jason Varitek, taken 20th by the Minnesota Twins.