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J.P. Howell | Relief Pitcher

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Age / DOB:  (30) / 4/25/1983
Ht / Wt:  6'0' / 190
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

J.P. Howell's first season in Los Angeles is off to a strong start, as the left-hander has a 2.89 ERA through 19 appearances for the Dodgers.
Coming off a stellar 2012 campaign, having posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio in 55 appearances for the Rays, Howell inked a one-year, $2.85 million contract with the Dodgers. Howell is allowing a few more base runners this season (1.34 WHIP compared to 1.21 in 2012), but his strikeout rate is slightly up and, more importantly, he hasn't surrendered a home run yet. May 22 - 4:59 AM

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Player News

Date:
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

Dodgers signed LHP J.P. Howell to a one-year, $2.85 million contract.

He can also earn an additional $1.2 million in performance-based incentives, so the deal could wind up being worth a bit over $4 million. Howell is coming off a nice 2012 campaign, having posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio in 55 appearances for the Rays.
Jan 7 - 8:16 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Dodgers and J.P. Howell have reached an agreement on a one-year, $2.85 million contract.

The deal also includes $1.2 million in performance-based incentives. It's a terrific addition to the backend of the Dodgers' bullpen. It's a tough blow for the Nationals, who were said to be the top suitor of Howell and will now be forced to settle for a much weaker left-handed reliever on the free agent market.
Related: Dodgers
Source: Buster Olney on Twitter
Jan 4 - 9:09 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers and J.P. Howell are closing in on a one-year deal.

Nothing is finalized yet, and potential terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. Howell is the top left-handed reliever remaining on the free agent market and would join a formidable bullpen that already boasts Kenley Jansen, Brandon League and Ronald Belisario.
Related: Dodgers
Source: Dylan Hernandez on Twitter
Jan 4 - 8:52 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

According to Dan Kolko of MASN Sports, J.P. Howell is the Nationals' top target on the free agent market to fill their void for a left-handed reliever.

Two of the three left-handers from the Nationals' 2012 bullpen, Tom Gorzelanny and Mike Gonzalez, have signed elsewhere in the past week, leaving a gaping hole. The free agent market drops off considerably after Howell, so they will likely intensify their pursuit in the coming days.
Related: Nationals
Source: MASNSports.com
Fri, Dec 28, 2012 10:17:00 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

Bill Ladson of MLB.com hears that the Nationals, Phillies, Cubs, Mariners and Rangers have interest in J.P. Howell.

Howell appears to be the Nats' top choice to replace Sean Burnett, but they obviously have some competition. The left-hander struggled in 2011 in his first year back from shoulder surgery, but he rebounded nicely in 2012, posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio in 55 appearances for the Rays.
Related: Cubs, Phillies, Mariners, Rangers, Nationals
Source: Nationals.mlb.com
Tue, Dec 18, 2012 11:53:00 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that the Nationals have "checked in" on free agent left-hander J.P. Howell.

Howell, 29, is one of the top left-handed specialists on the free agent market. He's spent the last seven seasons with the Rays and posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio in 55 appearances in 2012. The Nationals are believed to be targeting Howell to replace Sean Burnett.
Related: Nationals
Source: Washington Post
Sat, Dec 8, 2012 11:36:00 AM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

Free agent J.P. Howell would like to return to the Rays but indicated Saturday that there are "a handful" of teams that have shown interest in signing him.

Howell added that he wasn't sure how quickly his decision would come. The 29-year-old posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio over 50 1/3 innings for the Rays in 2012, and is one of the finest left-handed specialists on the free agent market.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 09:26:00 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

J.P. Howell has been unscored upon over his last 20 innings.

He reached the mark by striking out four over two scoreless frames Saturday. "J.P. was really sharp; he was incredibly good," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "They didn't get good swings on him, I thought he was really good. J.P. is really showing flashes of the past right now." Howell has had a nice bounce-back season, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 39 appearances for Tampa.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 11:42:00 AM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

J.P. Howell tossed a scoreless 12th inning on Monday to earn the win over the Mariners.

He walked a batter and induced three ground outs in the 13-pitch frame. Howell has not shown the same dominance since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2010. Coming off a miserable 2011 season, he has rebounded nicely with a 2.35 ERA. But keep in mind that opponents are batting .276 against him.
Tue, May 1, 2012 05:14:00 AM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

The Rays have agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract with left-hander J.P. Howell, avoiding salary arbitration.

He can make an additional $500,000 with incentives. Howell, who was arbitration-eligible for the final time this winter, made $1.1 million last season while posting a 6.16 ERA and 26/18 K/BB ratio over 30 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old southpaw will pitch in middle relief for the Rays this season.
Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith on Twitter
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 07:14:00 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that J.P. Howell and Andy Sonnanstine are candidates to be non-tendered by the Rays.

Howell's first season back from shoulder surgery didn't go well, as he held an ugly 6.16 ERA over 46 games. He did at least keep left-handed batters to a .222 mark, and he was fantastic in 2008 and 2009 before the shoulder problems surfaced. While Tampa might not be willing to pay what he'll make in his final year of arbitration, there will be teams out there willing to give him a chance to rebound. Sonnanstine spent a good chunk of 2011 at Triple-A and will likely make around $1 million in arbitration. It's a modest figure but one the Rays don't find enticing.
Related: Andy Sonnanstine
Source: St Petersburg Times
Sun, Dec 11, 2011 10:51:00 AM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

J.P. Howell will not be suspended for his actions during last Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Howell was ejected from last Friday's game after blowing up at home plate umpire Vic Carapazza. While he managed to avoid a suspension, he was fined $1,000 for throwing his glove and a ball. In addition, David Price was fined $500 while Elliot Johnson was fined $300. They were also ejected from Friday's game for arguing from the dugout.
Related: Elliot Johnson, David Price
Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter
Fri, Jul 8, 2011 06:35:00 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

J.P. Howell was ejected from Friday's game against the Cardinals in the top of the eighth inning.

Howell's frustration boiled over after he walked Lance Berkman and David Freese on close pitches and gave up a three-run homer to Colby Rasmus. He angrily tossed a ball towards the dugout and then had words with home plate umpire Vic Carapazza before getting tossed. Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected in an earlier at-bat while David Price and Elliot Johnson were also shown the door following Howell's ejection.
Related: Elliot Johnson, David Price
Source: Tampa Tribune on Twitter
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 09:28:00 PM
J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

J.P. Howell (gout) is available for Friday's game against the Astros.

Howell missed Wednesday's game after being diagnosed with gout in his left foot. "You've got to just medicate it and maybe change your diet," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "Not knowing what it is just plays on your mind. Now that we have definition, he feels a lot better about it." Howell, 28, has a 9.35 ERA and 7/4 K/BB over 8 2/3 innings this season.
Source: Rays.mlb.com
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 09:24:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1A.J. Ellis
2Ramon Hernandez
3Tim Federowicz
1B1Adrian Gonzalez
2Scott Van Slyke
2B1Mark Ellis
2Nick Punto
SS1Hanley Ramirez
2Dee Gordon
3B1Luis Cruz
2Juan Uribe
LF1Carl Crawford
2Jerry Hairston Jr.
3Skip Schumaker
CF1Matt Kemp
RF1Andre Ethier
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Clayton Kershaw
2Zack Greinke
3Josh Beckett
4Chad Billingsley
5Hyun-Jin Ryu
6Chris Capuano
7Ted Lilly
8Stephen Fife
9Matthew Magill
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Brandon League
2Kenley Jansen
3Matt Guerrier
4J.P. Howell
5Ronald Belisario
6Scott Elbert
7Paco Rodriguez
8Shawn Tolleson
9Javy Guerra