Dodgers Rumors: Walker Buehler, Gavin Lux & More Signed To Avoid Arbitration For 2024

Originally published by DodgerBlue.com

The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the offseason with 13 players eligible for salary arbitration, but that number has since been trimmed to 10 as a result of several moves over the last few weeks.

Wander Suero elected free agency after being sent outright to the Minors, Yency Almonte signed a one-year contract to avoid arbitration for the 2024 season and Victor González was traded to the New York Yankees.

That left Walker Buehler, Caleb Ferguson, J.P. Feyereisen, Brusdar Graterol, Gavin Lux, Dustin May, Evan Phillips, Will Smith, Alex Vesia and Ryan Yarbrough as the Dodgers’ remaining eligible players for salary arbitration this winter.

The original deadline for teams to avoid arbitration with eligible players was January 12. However, the date was pushed up a day, meaning agreements had to be in place by Thursday at 10 a.m. PT.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers signed Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Evan Philips new contracts and avoid arbitration:

Dodgers settle with Walker Buehler at $8.025m to avoid arbitration, source confirms.

Plus: $125,000 for LCS MVP, $125,000 for WS MVP. @ByRobertMurray had the agreement.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 11, 2024

Source: Dodgers, Dustin May settled at $2.135 million to avoid arbitration.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 11, 2024

Source: Dodgers, Evan Phillips settle at $4 million to avoid arbitration.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 11, 2024

In addition, Jack Harris of the L.A. Times is reporting Gavin Lux and J.P. Feyereisen agreed to terms:

Dodgers and Gavin Lux settled at $1.225 million to avoid arbitration, per source

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 11, 2024

Dodgers and JP Feyereisen settled at $770k to avoid arbitration, per source

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 11, 2024

Kiley McDaniel of ESPN also reported the Dodgers agreed with Ryan Yarbrough and Caleb Ferguson as well:

Dodgers and LHP Caleb Ferguson settle at $2.4 million to avoid arbitration, per source.

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 11, 2024

Dodgers and LHP Ryan Yarbrough settle at $3.9 million to avoid arbitration, per source.

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 11, 2024

The Dodgers now have each player on a one-year contract for the 2024 season. Of that group, only Buehler is eligible to reach free agency after the season while the rest remain under team control.

Dodgers arbitration hearings

The Dodgers have not yet been reported to have a new contract with Will Smith, Brusdar Graterol and Alex Vesia, but that does not those players will necessarily head to arbitration.

The Dodgers may have agreed to an unreported deal with any of them, but if that’s not the case, the two sides will exchange salary figures to set up the arbitration process. Between the salary figures being exchanged and the date for the arbitration hearing, the two sides could still come to an agreement on a new contract.

If no deal is reached during that time, the process will then go to be decided by an arbitrator, where the decision will be made to take either the team’s proposed salary, or the player’s.

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