The Los Angeles Dodgers got a jumpstart on avoiding arbitration late last year by agreeing to one-year contracts with Austin Barnes and Scott Alexander.
That overlapped with Pedro Baez, Cody Bellinger, Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Ross Stripling, Chris Taylor and Julio Urias being tendered a contract before the deadline to do so. Yimi Garcia was non-tendered, became a free agent and later signed with the Miami Marlins.
Last month, the Dodgers struck deals with Bellinger, Hernandez, Seager, Stripling and Urias. Each agreed to a one-year contract and avoided arbitration for the 2020 MLB season. However, L.A. failed to agree with Baez, Muncy, Pederson and Taylor, and now face arbitration hearings.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Pederson’s arbitration hearing on Thursday is one reason behind a delay in the Dodgers and L.A. Angels finalizing their trade:
Another factor in holdup of trade announcements, per sources: Joc Pederson’s arbitration hearing is today. Pederson is part of separate deal from #Dodgers to #Angels. He wanted $9.5M, LAD offered $7.75M. Decision likely would come within 24 hours of hearing’s conclusion (cont.).
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 6, 2020
As the Dodgers were working to complete a three-team trade with the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price, they additionally reached a tentative agreement to send Pederson, Ross Stripling and prospect Andy Pages to the Angels.
The secondary trade alleviates a forthcoming logjam in the outfield and also aids the Dodgers in still remaining below the luxury tax threshold this season.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers resolved matters with Muncy on Thursday by agreeing to a three-year, $26 million contract extension. The deal buys out Muncy’s three years of salary arbitration and also potentially a first year of free agency as the deal includes a team option on a fourth year.
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