UPDATE (Jan. 5, 9:00 a.m. PT): Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf did not record enough Major League service time during the 2016 season to qualify for salary arbitration.
The Los Angeles Dodgers tendered contracts to Luis Avilan, Josh Fields, Yasmani Grandal, Vidal Nuno, Darin Ruf and Alex Wood prior to Friday’s deadline to do so for arbitration-eligible players.
Chris Hatcher and Scott Van Slyke were also eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, but both were re-signed to one-year contracts on Thursday. Charlie Culberson, who wasn’t yet up for arbitration, also previously agreed to terms with the Dodgers.
Coming off an inconsistent second half of 2015 with the Dodgers, Avilan struggled mightily in Spring Training and began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
He pitched to 4.24 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 33 games with OKC. In 27 games with the Dodgers, Avilan sported a 3.20 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Though, his 2.13 FIP trailed only Kenley Jansen among Dodgers relievers.
Avilan did manage to end the regular season on a positive note, throwing nine consecutive scoreless innings over 11 appearances. He was included on the Dodgers playoff roster for both rounds.
The Dodgers acquired Fields from the Houston Astros on the final day non-waiver trades were permitted. Although Fields had spent the bulk of the season pitching for Houston’s Triple-A affiliate, he immediately joined the Dodgers.
The 31-year-old was 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings in his first 11 appearances with Los Angeles. Fields was optioned to Oklahoma City in late-August and allowed two runs on three hits in two innings over two games.
After once again joining the Dodgers, the right-hander posted a 0.93 ERA with 11 strikeouts in another 9.2 innings in 11 games. Fields’ finished the regular season with a 2.79 ERA, 3.61 FIP and 1.45 WHIP, while striking out 22 and walking eight in 19.2 innings pitched for the Dodgers.
His late surge earned a spot on the Dodgers’ roster for the National League Division Series and Championship Series. He had four strikeouts over 2.1 scoreless innings in four appearances, splitting them evenly during the NLDS and NLCS.
Coming off his first career All-Star season, Grandal again battled injuries but proved to be productive when healthy. Lingering forearm soreness meant a stint on the disabled list when the season began, but Grandal made his 2016 debut on April 12.
He batted .295 in April, but cooled off in May and June. After posting a .936 on-base plus slugging percentage in April, it dropped to a .464 OPS in May and .639 OPS in June.
All the while suffering from wrist and ankle injuries, Grandal managed to turn the corner in July. Over 21 games (18 starts), he hit .324/.439/.691 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs.
The success carried over into August and September, as Grandal hit six home runs in each month. He finished the year batting .228/.339/.477 with 27 home runs and 72 RBI in 126 games. His 27 homers were the most among Major League catchers.
Grandal then went into a slump in the postseason, collecting just three hits in 28 at-bats combined between the NLDS and NLCS.
Nuno was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Carlos Ruiz last month. The left-handed reliever went 2-5 with a 3.85 ERA, 4.67 FIP and 1.31 WHIP in 87 games (11 starts) for the Mariners over the past two seasons.
This year he sported a career-worst 10.3 hits per nine innings, but did post a career-high 4.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and his 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings was Nuno’s third-best mark of his career.
Ruf is another newcomer to the organization, joining the Dodgers in the trade that sent Howie Kendrick to the Philadelphia Phillies. Ruf batted .205/.236/.337 with two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI in 43 games (17 starts) with the Phillies this season.
The 30-year-old hit .294/.356/.529 with 20 home runs and 65 RBI in 95 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Ruf has appeared in 139 games (92 starts) at first base, one game at third base, 76 games (64 starts) in left field and 29 games (27 starts) in right field during his Major League career.
Wood was one of the several pitchers the Dodgers lost to injury this season. The lefty suffered a scare during Spring Training when he was scratched from a start due to dreaded forearm tightness.
Although often a precursor to Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers and Wood maintained the injury was minor. He returned five days later, and went on to make 10 consecutive starts in April and May — posting a 3.99 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 56.1 innings pitched.
The 25-year-old then had a scheduled start pushed back due to left triceps soreness, and soon after was placed on the 15-day DL with left posterior elbow soreness. An MRI revealed a posterior impingement in Wood’s left elbow that required approximately four weeks of rest.
He was said to be recovering ahead of schedule by the middle of June, and was slated to begin a throwing program. By early July, Wood was projected for an August return. However, on July 20 the Dodgers announced Wood was scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic debridement of his left elbow, sidelining him for eight weeks.
The 25-year-old was activated from the DL on Sept. 20, and turned in four scoreless innings over as many relief appearances to close out the regular season. He finished the year 1-4 with a 3.99 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 62 strikeouts in 56.1 innings over 10 starts.
The Dodgers and those who filed for arbitration will exchange salary figures in January. Both sides are permitted to negotiate a contract even after that point.
Louis Coleman was non-tendered, making him a free agent. Los Angeles has 39 players on their 40-man roster.
