Complete Guide To The Dodgers 2016 Offseason
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — After being eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS, the Dodgers have officially begun their 2016 offseason.
Let's take a look at the Dodgers roster and the possible shake-up that the 2016 offseason could bring.
The Dodgers have 3 players who will become unrestricted free agents when the World Series ends.
Free Agents (3)
2B Howie Kendrick
SP Brett Anderson
SS Jimmy Rollins
The Dodgers also have 5 players who either have team or player options.
Team / Player Options (5)
RP J.P. Howell - $6.2 million player option for 2016
2B Chase Utley - $11 million team option for 2016
SP Zack Greinke - $71 million, 3-year player option (has already opted out)***
RP Joel Peralta - $2.5 million team option for 2016
SP Bronson Arroyo - $13 million team option for 2016
*** Important Note - Just because Greinke has opted out of his contract does not mean that he will not re-sign with the Dodgers. Greinke had 3 years and $71 million left on his contract, and by opting out, he will likely make at least double that after signing his new contract. Greinke called the Dodgers, "the best organization in baseball" and has a real possibility of resigning with the club.
If the Dodgers do not want to pick-up the team option on Utley, they can buy out his contract for $2 million.
The team can do also buy-out Bronson Arroyo's contract for a price of $4.5 million.
The Dodgers have 10 players on their 40-man roster who are under contract for at least next season.
Under Contract (10)
OF Carl Crawford - 2015 salary: $20.5 million - Signed through 2017
3B Alex Guerrero - 2015 salary: $4 million - signed through 2017
OF Jose Tabata - 2015 salary: $4 million - signed through 2016
OF Andre Ethier - 2015 salary: $18 million - signed through 2017
1B Adrian Gonzalez - 2015 salary: $21 million - signed through 2018
SP Brandon McCarthy - 2015 salary: $17 million - signed through 2018
OF Yasiel Puig - 2015 salary: $4.5 million - signed through 2018
SP Hyun-Jin Ryu - 2015 salary: $4.5 million - signed through 2018
SS Erisbel Arruebarrena - 2015 salary: $3 million - signed through 2018
SP Clayton Kershaw - 2015 salary: $30 million - signed through 2020
Here is where the situation gets a little confusing.
Arbitration is a confusing process in the baseball world, so here is a brief primer of what goes on between teams and players.
Arbitration occurs when a team and a player are signifigantly far apart on contract negotiations.
At the end of the year, when a player is arbitration eligible, the team has a certain window of time to offer arbitration to that player.
Offering arbitration does not mean that the two sides will go to an arbitrator, but it simply means that the team is interested in keeping that player.
Often times, the team and the player continue to negotiate and settle on a contract before the arbitration hearing.
If the team and player do not reach an agreement, the case goes to court and then is heard by an arbitrator.
Once the case goes to arbitration, both sides submit a desired salary, and the judge determines which salary the player should receive.
Clubs must offer players going through arbitration at least 80% of the player's salary, including bonuses, from the previous season.
Over 80% of players filing for arbitration settle their contracts with the teams before the case is heard.
The Dodgers have 11 players on the 40-man roster who are eligible for arbitration.
Arbitration Eligible (11)
C - A.J. Ellis
RP - Kenley Jansen
3B - Justin Turner
OF - Chris Heisey
RP - Juan Nicasio
RP - Chris Hatcher
RP - Joe Wieland
C - Yasmani Grandal
OF - Scott Van Slyke
RP - Luis Avilan
OF - Justin Ruggiano
The Dodgers have 17 players who are "under team control".
According to Baseball News Source, " Once a player is drafted, or signed as an international free agent or undrafted free agent, by a MLB club is under team control for three seasons in the minors. Upon being placed on the 40-man roster, a player has three option years in which he can be called up and sent down from the minors an unlimited number of times. A player becomes eligible for free agency once he has six years on the 40-man roster and, of course, is not under contract for the following season."
The process is complicated and difficult to understand, but the main point is that the Dodgers have total control over players listed as "under team control"
Under Team Control (17)
SP - Alex Wood
RP - Brooks Brown
SP - Zach lee
RP - Yimi Garcia
C - Austin Barnes
IF - Ronald Torreyes
RP - Pedro Baez
IF/OF - Kike Hernandez
SS - Corey Seager
OF - Scott Schebler
SP - Josh Ravin
RP - Adam Liberatore
2B - Jose Peraza
SP - Ian Thomas
OF - Joc Pederson
SP - Mike Bolsinger
SP - Carlos Frias
Barring any trades, all 17 of these players will be back with the Dodgers for the 2016 season.
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