The Los Angeles Dodgers completed the majority of their offseason transactions after they signed Freddie Freeman and Tyler Anderson, but the club still had some contracts to sort out.
The first three came last Tuesday when the Dodgers avoided arbitration with Trea Turner, Julio Urias and Caleb Ferguson by signing them all to one-year deals. Bellinger, who was also arbitration-eligible, signed a one-year contract prior to the MLB lockout.
The next day was the deadline for teams to renew the contracts of players who are not eligible for arbitration but still remain under team control. If a team chose not to renew their contract, the player would become a free agent.
The Dodgers ended up renewing the contracts of Matt Beaty and Andrew Toles, both at the league minimum salary, which was recently raised as part of the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press:
Others whose contracts were renewed before the Wednesday deadline were Washington catcher Tres Barrera ($700,000), Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Matt Beaty ($730,000), St. Louis outfielder Dylan Carlson ($703,000), Texas outfielder Adolis García ($714,000), Colorado left-hander Austin Gomber ($710,000), Boston right-hander Tanner Houck ($716,000), Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah ($706,200), Oakland left-hander A.J. Puk ($705,000), Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles ($700,000), San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb ($730,000), Baltimore right-hander Tyler Wells ($704,500) and Milwaukee right-hander Devin Williams ($714,500).
Toles has not appeared in a game for three seasons, but the Dodgers have continued to renew his contract amid his mental health struggles. By keeping him under contract, they at least ensure the 29-year-old continues having access to healthcare services and financial support.
In June 2020, Toles was arrested when he was found sleeping behind a Federal Express building located at Key West International Airport. Police officers wrote in their report that Toles was given multiple opportunities to leave the premises before arresting him on a misdemeanor charge of trespassing.
The incident was attributed to his battle with mental health issues.
When news broke of Toles’ arrest, several members of the Dodgers organization reached out to his family. The team still considers him part of their family and he is still adored within the clubhouse by players and coaches.
Beaty was designated for assignment in order to make room on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster for the signing of Hanser Alberto.
The Dodgers could have just declined to renew Betty’s contract and let him reach free agency, but keeping him around gives them an opportunity to likely complete a trade.
Teams have seven days once a player is designated for assignment to trade or place the player on outright waivers. If a player is not traded or claimed, he can be sent to the Minor Leagues or released.
Dodgers hopeful Beaty will find a role with a new team
With the Dodgers improved depth on the roster and the return of Edwin Rios, Beaty was facing an uphill battle to make the club.
Beaty had one option year remaining so the Dodgers could have kept him in the organization as depth, but the team decided it was unlikely he would be able to carve out a role on the roster.
It’s likely Beaty will end up being traded or claimed off waivers by a team who would allow him to start or fill a bench role.
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