Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers had 11 players become free agents the morning after the World Series concluded and shortly after added to that group by declining their $12 million club option on Joe Kelly.
Kelly received a $4 million buyout and reached free agency for a second time since 2018. It’s believed he and the Dodgers could come to terms on a new contract that would ultimately wind up providing some payroll relief for the team.
Also last week, the Dodgers outrighted Scott Alexander, Andy Burns and Jimmie Sherfy off their 40-man roster after each cleared waivers.
According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, Alexander and Burns rejected the Minor League assignment and elected free agency:
The Dodgers also outrighted left-hander Scott Alexander, right-hander Jimmie Sherfy and infielder Andy Burns off the 40-man roster, making them free agents.
Alexander held the right to refuse the outright assignment by virtue of having more than five years of Major League service time. Burns had been previously outrighted in his career, which allowed for him to reject the assignment as well.
Alexander twice suffered from left shoulder inflammation this past season and appeared in just 18 games. He went 0-2 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, last pitching July 19.
Had the Dodgers not outrighted Alexander, he was due to be among their players eligible for arbitration.
Burns first joined the team in June and went on to make Dodgers franchise history by getting a hit and pitching in his first game. Burns’ time with the Dodgers marked a return to the Majors since last playing for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016. He went 3-for-11 with three walks over nine games.
Burns was optioned June 23 as the corresponding move to the Dodgers activating Cody Bellinger, and he didn’t return until the National League Championship Series as a replacement for the injured Justin Turner. Burns went 0-for-2 in pinch-hit appearances against the Atlanta Braves.
Edwin Uceta was designated for assignment in order to add Burns to the 40-man roster, and the right-handed relief pitcher went on to be claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dodgers 40-man roster outlook
Removing Alexander, Burns and Sherfy leaves the Dodgers with 36 players on their 40-man roster. That allows for some flexibility in the near term with potential signings in free agency and additions of Minor Leaguers to protect them from possibly being selected in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft next month.
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