LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One free agent the Dodgers were willing to confirm as signed Wednesday was backup catcher Mike Lieberthal, to a contract for one year plus an option.

Lieberthal is guaranteed $1.15 million for 2007, and a club option for 2008 at $1.4 million or a $100,000 buyout. Like Nomar Garciaparra and Randy Wolf, Lieberthal is a native Southern Californian. All three players are represented by Southland agent Arn Tellem.

"He's a local kid with a great desire to play in L.A.," said general manager Ned Colletti. "He knows all about Russell Martin, how good he is and how great he can be. He is fine being in a backup role."

The 34-year-old Lieberthal, who lives in Westlake, Calif., said his first Major League hit and home run came at Dodger Stadium.

"I've done well hitting at Dodger Stadium," he said. "Obviously, I'm used to catching every day for 12 years. At this point, being a little older, there weren't opportunities out there to start. This is a no-brainer. I think I can help Russell Martin in defense and a lot of areas. He'll catch almost every day, I know that."

A two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Lieberthal required a complete knee reconstruction in 2001, was on the disabled list twice in 2006 with a hairline fracture in his knee and left hip strain, and is recovering from postseason surgery to repair an abdominal muscle tear similar to the one Garciaparra had several years ago.

"I can't feel anything, it's healed," he said of the abdominal injury. "I haven't started hitting yet. Pretty soon."

Lieberthal has a .275 lifetime average with 150 home runs.

More on Gagne: Colletti conceded that free-agent closer Eric Gagne probably will sign elsewhere, but the club attempted to keep the former Cy Young winner with an incentive-laden one-year offer, guaranteeing not $1 million as previously reported, but about $4 million with performance bonuses that could bring his salary up to the $10 million he made last year.

Gagne, who is coming off two operations and a two-inning season, rejected that offer. Scott Boras, Gagne's agent, said on Tuesday that the reliever was very likely to be signed by the end of the Winter Meetings, which is Thursday.

"I would have loved to have Eric Gagne," said Colletti. "He's the first player I heard from when I got the job. I was looking forward to having him pitch and compete [in 2006]. I had seen enough of him from the other side to know how great a closer he is. He was looking forward to a new season. He told me his ideas on personnel. He showed me how much he loved to compete and have the club be successful. Unfortunately, [his season lasted] two innings."

Collins visits: Former farm director Terry Collins, who left the organization in October to manage in Japan, is attending the Winter Meetings and learned online that the franchise was named Baseball America's organization of the year.

"I'm very proud of them," said Collins, who received industry-wide acclaim for his role in resuscitating the farm system. "Give the staff guys all the credit, and it starts with Logan [White, recently promoted from scouting director to assistant general manager]."

Collins hired away Minor League instructor Jon Debus to join his coaching staff and mentioned that it was Debus' idea to transform Martin from a third baseman to a catcher. Collins also said to keep an eye on Preston Mattingly, son of Don and a sandwich draft pick in June.

"He has a sense about him, he has this confidence," Collins said. "He admits he has a lot to learn, he's not polished, but he says, 'Teach me.'"

Collins also is taking a closer to Japan, former Dodger Lance Carter.