The Los Angeles Dodgers had 11 players become free agents the morning after the World Series concluded and shortly after added to that group by declining their $12 million club option on Joe Kelly.
Kelly received a $4 million buyout and reached free agency for a second time since 2018. It’s believed he and the Dodgers could come to terms on a new contract that would ultimately wind up providing some payroll relief for the team.
Also last week, the Dodgers outrighted Scott Alexander, Andy Burns and Jimmie Sherfy off their 40-man roster after each cleared waivers.
Alexander and Sherfy have since elected free agency rather than accept the Minor League assignment.
Alexander held the right to refuse the outright assignment by virtue of having more than five years of Major League service time. Sherfy had been previously outrighted in his career, which allowed for him to reject the assignment as well.
Alexander twice suffered from left shoulder inflammation this past season and appeared in just 18 games. He went 0-2 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, last pitching July 19.
Had the Dodgers not outrighted Alexander, he was due to be among their players eligible for arbitration.
Sherfy was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants in the middle of July but only went on to pitch in four games because he too was lost to injury.
Sherfy nevertheless made MLB history by becoming the first pitcher to appear in a game for both the Dodgers and Giants in a single season.
Dodgers 40-man roster outlook
Removing Alexander, Burns and Sherfy left the Dodgers with 36 players on their 40-man roster. That allows for some flexibility in the near term with potential signings in free agency and additions of Minor Leaguers to protect them from possibly being selected in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft next month.
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