For a second consecutive year the Los Angeles Dodgers offseason began after failing to advance beyond the National League Division Series.
Among the questions the Dodgers face this winter was the future of Don Mattingly as manager, and Zack Greinke’s expected free agency.
While the Mattingly situation was resolved with the 54 year old and the Dodgers front office mutually agreeing to part ways, Greinke can’t yet formally make his decision; though the belief is he’ll opt out.
The Dodgers also have several players who are eligible for arbitration, and others either with club or player options.
Players Under Contract
This group is made up of 10 players, including two who aren’t on the 40-man roster: Erisbel Arruebarrena (not on 40-man), Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Alex Guerrero, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy, Yasiel Puig, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jose Tabata (not on 40-man).
Ryu is coming off shoulder surgery that prevented him from pitching so much as one game this season, but is expected to recover in time for Spring Training. He can opt out after the 2017 season, or play out the entirety of his contract the following year.
Guerrero swung a hot bat early in the year, only to fall off and see his role/playing time diminish. Both Crawford and Ethier are signed through the 2017 season.
Ethier’s contract includes an $17.5 million vesting option ($2.5 million buyout) for 2018. Arruebarrena, Gonzalez, Kershaw and McCarthy are signed through 2018.
Puig’s contract ends after the 2018 season but due to service time, he won’t be eligible for free agency until after 2019. He can however, opt into arbitration after accruing three years of service time.
Tabata will earn $4.5 million next season, then has $6.5 million, $7.5 million and $8.5M club options for 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively; each option year includes a $250,000 buyout.
Players With Options
Greinke understandably headlines this group of five. He’s joined by Bronson Arroyo ($13 million club option for 2016; $4.5 million buyout), J.P. Howell ($6.25 million player option), Joel Peralta ($2.5 million club option) and Chase Utley.
Utley’s club option for 2016 will fall somewhere between $5-11 million, with the total dependent on time spent on the disabled list this season. Utley missed 39 games in 2015 (all with the Philadelphia Phillies) due to a right ankle issue.
Utley’s option year includes a $2 million buyout. The veteran second baseman’s agent said his client intends on continuing his career next season.
Arroyo missed the entire 2015 season and last pitched in June 2014. It appears unlikely he’s with the Dodgers next season. Battling injury early, Peralta struggled before finally managing to get healthy.
Once that was the case, the veteran right-hander pitched well down the stretch. Peralta said he hopes to pitch next season; the Dodgers hold $2.5 million club options through 2017.
As for Greinke, there are three years and $71 million remaining on his current deal. Smart money has the right-hander opting out for one final long-term contract in his career.
Coming off a Cy Young-worthy season, Greinke figures to command at least $100 million once he presumably hits the open market. He has three days after the World Series ends to make a decision.
Should it go the distance, Game 7 is scheduled for Nov. 4; a sweep would have the Fall Classic concluding on Halloween.
CONTINUE READING: Arbitration Eligible Players And Free Agents
Arbitration Eligible
The Dodgers avoided arbitration for the 2015 season with A.J. Ellis, Chris Heisey, Kenley Jansen, Juan Nicasio and Justin Turner.
This year, the group of arbitration-eligible players consists of: Luis Avilan, Ellis, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Heisey, Jansen, Nicasio, Justin Ruggiano, Turner, Scott Van Slyke and Joe Wieland.
The deadline to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players is Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. PT. Ellis, Heisey, Jansen, Nicasio, Ruggiano and Turner all earned over $2 million this season. Jansen led the bunch with a $7.425 million salary.
Free Agents
Brett Anderson, Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins will become free agents the morning after the World Series ends.
It was reported Anderson will receive the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer. Kendrick may also be in the same boat as the left-hander.
No player in MLB history has signed the qualifying offer, though Anderson certainly presents an interesting case study. He managed to break free of the injury prone perception, and filled the void in the starting rotation left by season-ending injuries to McCarthy and Ryu.
More so than Anderson, Kendrick is unlikely to re-sign with the Dodgers on the one-year deal. Both players can reject the qualifying offer, then agree to different terms with Los Angeles.
The Dodgers would receive a compensatory pick in the 2016 draft for any qualifying offer extended and not signed. Qualifying offers must be submitted by 2 p.m. PT on the fifth day following the World Series.
Players have until 2 p.m. on the 12th day after the World Series to accept or decline. Given Corey Seager’s emergence over the last month of the regular season, Rollins would appear to be a long shot to return with the Dodgers.