2013 Contract Issues: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (5)
- Andre Ethier - The Dodgers would like to sign Ethier long-term, but it might require a $100MM commitment.
- James Loney - Loney doesn't hit much relative to other first basemen, so the Dodgers may let him walk in an attempt to improve their offense.
- Adam Kennedy - The 36-year-old will have to provide some offense to go along with his defensive versatility.
- Jamey Wright - Teams always need middle relievers, though Wright turns 38 this offseason.
- Bobby Abreu - Five games into Abreu's Dodgers career it's too early to know if he'll return in 2013.
Contract Options (3)
- Juan Rivera: $4MM club option with a $500K buyout. The Dodgers don't seem to trust Rivera against right-handed pitching, and given his struggles their hesitation is justified. $4MM is expensive for a platoon bat with little defensive value.
- Todd Coffey: $2.5MM club option with a $300K buyout. Coffey spent much of April on the disabled list, but he could earn a place in the Dodgers' 2013 'pen with a strong finish.
- Matt Treanor: $950K club option with a $150K buyout. The Dodgers may prefer to make Tim Federowicz their backup and save a little money.
Arbitration Eligible (2)
- First time: Blake Hawksworth, A.J. Ellis
Recently hired director of baseball contracts Alex Tamin will likely be up against one of the smallest arbitration classes in the game next offseason. Two players are eligible for the first time and that's it.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Dodgers have a $105MM payroll this year, and they've already committed $103MM to next year's team, not including arbitration eligible players. It's a good thing new ownership expects payroll to rise, because the Dodgers are getting expensive.
No In-Season Talks For Kershaw, Dodgers
The Dodgers don’t have plans to discuss a long-term contract extension with defending NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw — at least for now. GM Ned Colletti told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that "nothing will happen” during the season (Twitter link).
Kershaw recently signed a two-year, $19MM deal that covers his first two arbitration seasons (2012-13). The 24-year-old Hendricks Sports client will be eligible for arbitration one more time following the 2013 season and eligible for free agency following the 2014 season. Guggenheim Baseball Management recently gained control of the Dodgers and may look to extend the left-hander’s stay in Los Angeles with a long-term extension. Kershaw figures to set ask for a $100MM contract if he has another strong season.
Rosenthal On Ethier, Santana, Blue Jays, D’Backs
Here's the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Impending free agent Andre Ethier is "the first opportunity for the Dodgers’ new ownership to make a statement in the post-McCourt era," and while Ethier has let it be known that he's willing to negotiate a new deal during the season, Rosenthal thinks Stan Kasten would prefer to see Ethier perform well and stay healthy for the entire 2012 season before offering him a contract extension. Rosenthal predicts Ethier will look for a deal similar to Jayson Werth's seven-year, $126MM contract with the Nationals, and given the lack of proven power bats on the market, Ethier "probably can name his price" this winter if he keeps producing.
- Johan Santana's hefty contract and no-trade clause will make it hard for the Mets to move him without eating a lot of money in a deal. Rosenthal thinks it makes more sense for the Mets to just hang on to Santana, who can be a valuable mentor to the team's young pitchers.
- The Blue Jays are unlikely to trade either J.P. Arencibia or Travis d'Arnaud before the end of the season, as the Jays like Arencibia's game-calling and d'Arnaud's overall potential. Rosenthal cites the Diamondbacks as one of several teams interested in Toronto's catchers, which follows up on his report in March that the Snakes were looking at Arencibia. Arizona's interest would seem to indicate that the D'Backs are preparing a backup plan should they not be able to re-sign Miguel Montero.
- It "does not appear out of the question" that the Rockies will make changes to the coaching staff given the team's pitching woes, defensive struggles and overall poor start.
- A scout tells Rosenthal that Andy Pettitte "does not look close to ready" and will need several more minor league starts before he's ready to return to the Yankees.
West Links: Abreu, Ishikawa, Trumbo
Here's the latest out of baseball's two West divisions…
- Bobby Abreu had other offers before choosing to sign with the Dodgers, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). He liked the idea of returning to the NL and knows manager Don Mattingly from his time with the Yankees.
- The Giants offered Travis Ishikawa a minor league contract to return during the offseason, but he signed with the Brewers because they offered a better opportunity to Hank Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle. Mat Gamel's injury opened the door for Ishikawa to play everyday.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports speculates (on Twitter) that Mark Trumbo of the Angels would be a good fit for the Blue Jays. He says it's hard to see Toronto trading a reliever while Sergio Santos is still on the DL, however.
Stark On Rays, Giants, Phillies, Ethier, Nationals
In today's column, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com put together his "All-Most-Immovable team" with help from front office executives from around the league. Predictable names such as Carl Crawford, Alfonso Soriano, and Barry Zito are on the list, but Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder also made the cut. Pujols wouldn't be a tough sell because of his slow start, according to one AL exec, but rather because of the money due to the slugger on the back end of the deal. Here's more from Stark..
- If the Rays and Giants shop for third basemen to replace Evan Longoria and Pablo Sandoval, they might not find many viable options. The only potentially available names Stark has heard are the Orioles' Mark Reynolds and the Twins' Danny Valencia. One exec said that the Rays are more likely to go after someone with versatility that they can slide into a different spot upon Longoria's return.
- The Phillies are also looking for a young third baseman and the club is working to put together a list of potential replacements for impending free agent Placido Polanco.
- While some execs say that they would be wary of giving Andre Ethier a sizable deal for fear that he is in salary-drive mode, others think that the Dodgers have no other choice. The cost of finding another right field, middle of the order bat will likely be just as high and alternatives such as Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher or Torii Hunter don't appear to be more trustworthy.
- A number of clubs are bearing down on the Astros, but reviews are mixed on Wandy Rodriguez thanks in large part to his contract. The pitcher will earn $10MM this year, $13MM in 2013, and can be bought out of his $13MM club option for 2014 with a $2.5MM payment.
- If Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore continue to look sharp, the Nationals might not be in the market for a center fielder.
- Stark asked a few executives if they'd roll the dice on Delmon Young as a relative free agent bargain next winter and the typical response was that they would not. Young avoided arbitration with the Tigers this winter by agreeing to a one-year, $6.75MM deal.
Dodgers, Bobby Abreu Agree To Deal
The Dodgers have reached agreement on a deal with Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Peter E. Greenberg & Associates client will serve as a bat off of the bench and a part-time outfielder.
On Wednesday, we learned that the Dodgers were in serious talks with the 38-year-old. The Angels released Abreu one week ago and will be on the hook for the remainder of his $9MM salary. Abreu's new deal could be for as little as the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum.
Abreu took a step back in 2011 as he hit .253/.353/.365 with eight homers in 142 games. He openly complained about his reduced role with the club and got off to a slow start in 2012, prompting his release. The Angels appeared to have struck a deal for Abreu with the Indians in March but Cleveland balked at the portion of his salary they were being asked to pay.
The slugger hopes to play for two or three more seasons, according to Heyman (via Twitter).
Dodgers Notes: Offseason Moves, Walter, Payroll
Here are a few items out of Los Angeles as the Dodgers enjoy an off day before starting a three-game series at Wrigley Field…
- The Dodgers' seemingly minor offseason acquisitions have played a large role in the club's early success, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.
- Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles profiles Mark Walter, the Dodgers' new majority owner who has purposely taken a back seat behind Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten as the faces of the team.
- At the new ownership group's introductory press conference on Wednesday, Kasten told reporters (including Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times) that he will be flexible with any limit on the team's payroll. “I expect moving forward it’s going to be north of where it is now,” Kasten said. “But I have to tell you, I never focus on a target in getting the 25 guys….So focus on the players that we get and don’t worry so much about the payroll. I don’t have a set number for you because we’re not going to do it that way. We’re going to take every opportunity that we can. If that means increasing payroll, then that’s what’s going to happen.”
- In news from earlier tonight, the Dodgers designated Mike MacDougal for assignment in order to make roster space for another right-hander, Ronald Belisario.
Dodgers Designate Mike MacDougal For Assignment
The Dodgers have designated right-hander Mike MacDougal for assignment, according to the club's official Twitter feed. In a corresponding move, Ronald Belisario has been reinstated from the restricted list.
Despite posting some middling peripheral numbers, MacDougal managed a 2.05 ERA in 69 games for Los Angeles last season, earning himself a new one-year, $1MM contract in January. He has posted a 7.94 ERA in seven appearances (5 2/3 innings) this season. The 35-year-old reliever will now have to clear waivers before the Dodgers can send him back down to the minors.
Belisario was due to be activated after serving a 25-game suspension for failing a drug test. The right-hander hasn't pitched since 2010 due to visa and substance abuse issues.
Dodgers In Serious Talks With Bobby Abreu
The Dodgers are in serious talks with Bobby Abreu, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Details still need to be worked out, so the deal is not yet done.
The Angels released the 38-year-old Abreu late last week, and earlier today we heard that several NL teams have expressed interest. Abreu posted a .353 on-base percentage with 21 stolen bases and 78 walks last year, but got off to a slow start in 2012. He is a client of Peter E. Greenberg & Associates and is available for a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum at this point. The Angels are responsible for the remainder of his $9MM salary.
Dodgers Notes: McCourt, Magic, Kasten
The Dodgers’ front office will likely renew its interest in the market for Latin American players, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported earlier today. Here are some more notes on the Dodgers, who are now officially under the ownership of Guggenheim Baseball Management:
- Former owner Frank McCourt wrote a letter to the team's staff and Bill Shaikin of the LA Times obtained a copy (Twitter link). "We grew the value of the franchise well beyond what anyone thought was possible," McCourt wrote.
- Magic Johnson invested more than $50MM in the team, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports (Twitter link). The NBA legend takes over McCourt’s former office down the left field line at Dodger Stadium.
- Johnson wants fans to look past the previous ownership group, Shaikin tweets. "Frank is not here,”Johnson said. “He is not part of the Dodgers anymore. We should be clapping for that."
- The new ownership group took out a full-page ad in today's LA Times, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com reports. "We are committed to building the next dynasty," the owners told their fans.
- CEO Stan Kasten says winning cultures start “with scouting and player development," Shaikin tweets.
- "Can't give you a (payroll) number, but we'll be in on every major free agent," said Kasten according to ESPN's Molly Knight (on Twitter).
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.