The Los Angeles Dodgers began the arbitration process this offseason by tendering contracts to Pedro Baez, Cody Bellinger, Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Ross Stripling, Chris Taylor and Julio Urias.
Meanwhile, the club additionally to one-year contracts with Scott Alexander and Austin Barnes, and non-tendered Yimi Garcia. He immediately became a free agent and went on to sign with the Miami Marlins.
Then prior to Friday’s deadline for players and teams to exchange arbitration salary figures, the Dodgers and Ross Stripling reportedly avoided that process by agreeing to a one-year contract.
According to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers additionally agreed to a one-year contract and avoided arbitration with Urias:
The Dodgers and Julio Urías have agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal to avoid arbitration, per source.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) January 10, 2020
Urias was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn a $1.7 million salary this season. Like most other contracts when avoiding arbitration, his deal presumably is non-guaranteed.
Of course, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where the Dodgers would be moved to release the left-hander. Urias is expected to be part of their Opening Day rotation, which would represent his first significant opportunity to be a permanent starter.
Urias went 4-3 with four saves, a 2.49 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 79.2 innings pitched across 37 games (eight starts) last year. His season included serving a suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
“Today I accepted a suspension from Major League Baseball and agreed not to exercise my right to appeal,” Urias said in a released statement at the time. “It is important to me not to create uncertainty for my teammates as we approach the playoffs.
“Accepting the suspension is the best path to achieve that goal. Since May, I have been fully cooperating with both law enforcement and MLB. Although the authorities determined no charges of any kind were warranted, I take full responsibility for what I believe was my inappropriate conduct during the incident.
“Even in this instance where there was no injury or history of violence, I understand and agree that Major League players should be held to a higher standard. I hold myself to a higher standard as well. I have taken proactive steps to help me grow as a person on and off the field, and in my relationships, including attending counseling sessions.
“I am deeply grateful for all the support I’ve received during this challenging time. I look forward to proving it is well deserved.”
Reports of additional agreements presumably will trickle out, or the Dodgers themselves will make an official announcement as to which other players they avoided arbitration with.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman hasn’t gone to arbitration at any point in his tenure with the team. The organization’s last arbitration hearing was with Joe Beimel in 2007.
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