Dodgers tender contracts to all but one
LOS ANGELES -- All but one of the unsigned players on the Dodgers¡¯ 40-man roster were tendered contracts on Tuesday ahead of MLB¡¯s non-tender deadline, including four arbitration-eligible players: Cody Bellinger, Trea Turner, Julio Urías and Caleb Ferguson.
Bellinger and Turner figure to earn the highest salaries of the quartet in arbitration. Bellinger, the 2019 National League MVP, is entering his third year of arbitration after qualifying for Super Two eligibility two seasons ago. In ¡®21, he made $16.1 million, though subpar numbers that season might hurt his case this winter.
Turner, meanwhile, could be looking at a hefty raise in his third year of arbitration. During a superb run as the NL batting champ in 2021, he made $13 million, and figures to see a bump from that as the Dodgers¡¯ primary shortstop following the exit of Corey Seager.
For Ur¨ªas, it¡¯s his second year of arbitration, having made $3.6 million in his first full season as a member of the Dodgers¡¯ rotation. It was a career year for Ur¨ªas, who went 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA. Ferguson, who will be entering his first year of arbitration, missed all of ¡®21 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures is Jan. 14, though the new Collective Bargaining Agreement could impact that. The expiration of the CBA -- set for 8:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday -- already pushed up the non-tender deadline to Tuesday from Thursday.
The only eligible player to not be tendered a contract was left-hander Andrew Vasquez, who immediately became a free agent. The move opens a spot on the 40-man roster, which now sits at 39.
Vasquez, 28, started last season in the Twins¡¯ farm system before being traded to L.A. for Minor League catcher Stevie Berman on Aug. 31. He made two relief appearances for the Dodgers in 2021, striking out three in 1 2/3 innings of work.