The Los Angeles Dodgers announced each of their arbitration-eligible players were signed to one-year contracts. The group consisted of Pedro Baez, Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields, Yasmani Grandal, Kiké Hernandez, Joc Pederson and Alex Wood.
Luis Avilan was tendered a contract by the Dodgers, but his obligation was passed along to the Chicago White Sox who acquired the left-hander as part of a three-team trade. Yimi Garcia was also eligible for arbitration but he re-signed prior to the December deadline for players to be tendered.
Baez was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to receive a $1.5 million salary this season, which matches the reported earnings of his one-year deal.
Baez endured another inconsistent season and went on to 3-6 with a 2.95 ERA, 4.44 FIP and 1.33 WHIP. His strikeout rate plummeted from last year’s 28.1 percent to 22.9 percent this season, while his walk rate increased from 7.5 to 10.4 percent.
Despite the struggles, Baez was included on the NLDS roster, though he did not appear in any game.
Cingrani was acquired by the Dodgers at last season’s July 31 non-waiver trade deadline in exchange for Scott Van Slyke. In 22 games with the team, Cingrani pitched to a 2.79 ERA, 1.86 FIP and 1.09 WHIP.
He had 28 strikeouts against just six walks in 19.1 innings pitched, and carried that success into the postseason, where he sported a 1.80 ERA in seven relief appearances. Cingrani’s reported $2.3 million salary is slightly over his projected $2.2 million.
In his first full season with the Dodgers, Fields went 5-0 with two saves, a 2.84 ERA, 4.18 FIP and 0.97 WHIP in 57 games. He battled some bouts of fatigue, but otherwise enjoyed a successful year. Fields’ deal is said to be worth $2.2 million, matching his MLB Trade Rumors projection.
Grandal battled nagging injuries throughout last season but still managed to hit .247/.308/.459 with 27 doubles, 22 home runs and 58 RBI. Grandal set career highs in games played (129) and doubles.
Nonetheless, he was overtaken by Austin Barnes as the starting catcher down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. Grandal’s reported $7.9 million salary exceeded his prognostication — $7.7 million.
Hernandez bounced back from a disappointing 2016 season to hit .215/.308/.421 with 24 doubles, 11 home runs and 37 RBI over a career-high 140 games. He was effective against left-handed pitching, batting .270/.367/.579 with 13 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 27 RBI.
Hernandez was projected to earn $1.3 million in salary this season, and indications are he beat that by agreeing to a deal worth $1.6 million.
Pederson struggled and it resulted in a demotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City and losing his starting job in center field to Chris Taylor. Pederson hit .212/.331/.407 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBI. His 102 games were the lowest since becoming a full-time player in 2015.
Pederson did shine in the NLCS and World Series, batting a combined .304/.360/.826 with three doubles, three home runs and five RBI in 11 games (six starts). The financial details of Pederson’s contract are unknown, though he was pegged to earn $2 million.
Wood enjoyed a career season that included his first selection to the All-Star Game. Despite beginning the year in the bullpen, the southpaw became an integral member of the starting rotation.
Wood went 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA, 3.32 FIP and 1.06 WHIP in 27 games (25 starts). He was equally stellar in the postseason, pitching to a 2.92 ERA while holding opponents to a .122/.163/.415 batting line in three games (two starts).
Wood’s new contract is worth a reported $6 million, which falls short of his $6.4 million projection.
The Dodgers’ latest salary arbitration hearing was with Joe Beimel in 2007. Los Angeles arbitration with Fields, Grandal and Wood, among others, last winter. Meanwhile, this offseason marked the first time Baez, Garcia, Hernandez and Pederson were eligible.
