The Los Angeles Dodgers reached the World Series for the first time since 1988 and played to the last possible day of the 2017 season, but ultimately came up short in ending their championship drought. Thus, MLB free agency began the following morning, marking the start of the offseason.
Unlike last winter, where there was a clear focus from Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to re-sign Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, what’s ahead this offseason is somewhat uncertain. It’s not beyond reason to believe the club may be more active in the trade market than free agency.
Just as was the case this season, the core of the roster is expected to remain intact moving forward. A total of two players had options on their contracts, more than a handful reached free agency, and several remain under contract for next season, and in some instances, beyond.
Under contract
The 10 players who are under contract for at least the 2018 season are: Adrian Gonzalez, Hill, Kenley Jansen, Scott Kazmir, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Brandon McCarthy, Yasiel Puig, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Turner.
So too are Erisbel Arruebarrena (entering final year) and Yaisel Sierra, but neither are on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Gonzalez, Kazmir, McCarthy and Ryu are entering the final year of their respective contracts. In McCarthy’s case, the Dodgers hold an $8 million club option for 2019. Meanwhile, it’s plausible the team may look to trade Gonzalez or Kazmir.
Puig will also be in the final year of his seven-year contract, but a year of salary arbitration will likely follow, and he won’t reach free agency until after the 2019 season.
The likes of Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Ross Stripling, Trayce Thompson, Andrew Toles and Julio Urias, among others, also remain under team control as players who have not yet logged three years of Major League service time.
Players with options
Andre Ethier had a $17.5 million option on his contract for 2018, which also included a $2.5 million buyout. Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers on Sunday elected to get out from under Ethier’s deal, and he’s now a free agent.
The Dodgers held a $9 million option on Logan Forsythe, which they exercised on Monday. The alternative was paying a $1 million buyout on his deal.
Arbitration eligible
The Dodgers this winter have nine players who are eligible for salary arbitration: Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields, Yimi Garcia, Yasmani Grandal, Kiké Hernandez, Joc Pederson and Alex Wood.
It’s a first for Baez, Garcia, Hernandez and Pederson. Cingrani previously went through the process with the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2017 season, agreeing to a one-year, $1.825 million contract to avoid arbitration.
Avilan ($1.5 million), Fields ($1.05), Grandal ($5.5) and Wood ($2.8) all avoided arbitration last offseason by agreeing to one-year deals. This marks the final time Avilan and Grandal will be eligible for salary arbitration.
Free agents
The morning after the World Series concluded, Yu Darvish, Curtis Granderson, Franklin Gutierrez, Brandon Morrow, Chase Utley and Tony Watson were among the 149 Major League players to become free agents.
Of the group, Morrow or Watson may be the most likely to return, followed by Darvish. Of course given the players’ and front office’s affinity for Utley, him re-signing for a third time can’t be completely ruled out.
