LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers made it official on Thursday, hiring future Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre to replace Grady Little, who resigned on Tuesday. Torre, who left the Yankees last month after a run of 12 consecutive years in the playoffs and four World Series wins, agreed to a three-year contract for an estimated $13 million. Torre is expected to bring several of his former Yankees coaches with him, including bench coach Don Mattingly and possibly third-base coach Larry Bowa, who also has an offer from Seattle. Although he was the Dodgers' second choice (they originally pursued Joe Girardi, Torre's eventual replacement with the Yankees), Torre provides the organization instant credibility that could translate into the recruitment of better players, such as free agent and former Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, who could fill holes at third base and in the middle of a power-starved batting order. Torre, 67, walked away from a one-year offer from the Yankees of $5 million plus incentives. But friends say he was eager to return to managing, in part to prove he can win without the Yankees' payroll, the highest in baseball. The Dodgers' payroll of $124 million in 2007 was third-highest, though even that figure was about $80 million below that of the Yankees. Torre is expected to have the same input in player personnel matters that Little had, something he apparently did not have in his final years with the Yankees. Little often said that general manager Ned Colletti consulted him on all player moves. Torre inherits an imperfect roster coming off a fourth-place finish and a clubhouse divided. The split between young and old players could heal itself as some of the unhappy veterans have already declared for free agency. Nonetheless, Torre has enjoyed widespread respect from his players over the years and Dodgers officials are confident his presence will preclude a repeat of last year's turmoil. With a salary multiples higher than any Dodgers manager in history, Torre will be charged with fulfilling owner Frank McCourt's promise to fans of championship baseball, which the franchise hasn't enjoyed since 1988. Torre has managed 27 years for four Major League teams, the last dozen years with the Yankees. He never reached the World Series until he managed the Yankees and won four world championships there, but none since 2000. The Yankees finished second in the AL East in 2007 for the first time since 1997. Torre was manager of the year in 1996 and 1998. He previously managed the Braves, Mets and Cardinals. His overall winning percentage is .539, but his win percentage excluding the Yankees years was .470, and those teams finished first once in 15 seasons. Following Jim Tracy and Little, Torre will be the third manager for the Dodgers since McCourt purchased the club less than four years ago and the Dodgers' sixth manager in the last 10 years (Bill Russell, Glenn Hoffman and Davey Johnson are the others). The Dodgers have scheduled a press conference for Monday at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) at Dodger Stadium. --

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