Centre-fielder Juan Pierre and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a five-year contract worth about US$45 million on Wednesday, giving the team additional speed at the top of the lineup.

``Juan's ability to hit combined with his speed make him a perfect catalyst for our lineup,'' Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a statement. ``His work ethic and character are second-to-none, and he knows what it takes to win. He's dedicated to the community and I truly believe the city of Los Angeles is going to love this player.''

The 29-year-old Pierre hit .292 with 204 hits, 58 stolen bases, three homers and 40 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs last season. Previously, he played two full seasons and part of another with the Colorado Rockies and three years with the Florida Marlins.

Pierre has a .303 career batting average and 325 stolen bases. He finished first or second in the NL in stolen bases in each of the past six seasons, and was the most difficult player in the league to strike out in five of the last six years.

Pierre has 1,182 hits since 2001 _ the second-highest total in the majors behind Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki.

Los Angeles already has one of baseball's best leadoff hitters in shortstop Rafael Furcal. Pierre figures to hit first or second, with Furcal hitting first, second or third.

The Dodgers were in the market for at least one outfielder because J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract earlier this month and became a free agent. The addition of Pierre almost surely means Kenny Lofton won't be re-signed. The 39-year-old Lofton hit .301 with 32 stolen bases in his only season with Los Angeles.

Pierre hit .305 with a career-high 65 stolen bases in 2003, when he helped the Marlins win the World Series. He had his best season the following year, hitting .326 with a career-high 221 hits.

© The Canadian Press, 2007