Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Four More Sign; Ethier Double-Dips

Report: Andre Ethier to sign two-year deal (Dodger Thoughts)

Reports: Loney, Kuo, Sherrill avoid arbitration (Dodger Thoughts)

If you were wondering what the Dodgers were saving their money for — or, indeed, if there was money left to save — here's your answer. The team's award-winning outfielders will be intact for the next two seasons, while Ned Colletti has been busy wrapping up pre-arbitration negotiations before agents start submitting their salary figures today. Two Dodgers are still eligible for arbitration: Russell Martin and Jonathan Broxton. That sound you hear is Kim Ng sharpening her adamantium claws*.

UPDATE: According to Dylan Hernandez, "The Dodgers have agreed to deals with all of their arbitration-eligible players." Here's what we know:

  • James Loney: $3.1 million
  • Hong-Chih Kuo: $950,000 (plus $150,000 in appearance-based incentives)
  • George Sherrill: $4.5 million (plus $150,000 in appearance-based incentives)
  • Andre Ethier: two years, $15.25 million plus incentives
  • Russell Martin $5.05 million
  • Jonathan Broxton: two years, $11 million

Meanwhile, Kim Ng sulks in a corner.

*Yes, I'm aware we made this joke last year.

17 comments:

Steve Sax said...

yeeeeeeeee haw! That's great news for the four who signed, as well as for us Dodger fans.

Russell Martin has gotta be feeling really poor right now on his timing. I'm hoping 2010 can be a turnaround year for him.

Orel said...

I wonder if Ned tried to get him for two years.

Steve Sax said...

whoops, I guess Russell got paid after all

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Wow, they are WAY overpaying Martin. I guess 2010 will be a make or break year. If Russell falters, then his goose is cooked. If Russell recovers, then he can sign for a longer term contract at a premium.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This is good in that it has created a set payroll. Ned knows what he can and can't do. Hopefully, Ben Sheets and Erik Bedard both fall under the "can" category.

Josh S. said...

Thanks for playiNG, Kim.

Fred's Brim said...

Kuo for around a mil? that's The Nice Price! He's sure to blow out his elbow again, isnt he?

Kyle Baker said...

Ng must just be ready to bite the head off a bat by this point of her unrequited arbitration energy.

Kyle Baker said...

FB-

It's impossible to blow out an elbow that consists entirely of erector set parts. He only needs to be oiled regularly.

Orel said...

Can you imagine the Ng household this evening?

"Hi honey, how was work?"

"AAARGHHHHH!" (tears husband's head off)

Fred's Brim said...

Does signing Breezy change the possibility of him being traded as part of a package for a 4th or 5th starter?

Orel said...

More likely at the trading deadline. A $4.5-million middle reliever isn't an Opening Day priority for most teams.

Fred's Brim said...

even though he'd be considered a quality closer by teams that don't have a Jonathan Broxton (and maybe some that do)?

Orel said...

Good point. But wouldn't that reinforce his value as a mid-season pickup?

Fred's Brim said...

maybe so - i think he's more valuable to us than some crappy 4 or 5 anyway. I am just wondering if Ned is more or less likely to trade him this offseason now that he's got a real contract (i am just ignorant of the "value" of a contract in baseball)

Kyle Baker said...

I totally agree that Breezy is extremely valuable to us right now. Expensive, but valuable. He would me somewhat more expendable if, say, we actually had a no. 4 and 5 starter and a veteran bullpen (outside Broxton) that had proven itself over multiple years. We don't know whether Belly and Coso will go all Corey Wade on us this year and wind up penniless and insane living under some bridge in Toledo, so Breezy becomes the known quantity.

karina said...

From what i saw of Belisario in winter baseball, there's nothing to worry about. He might have a couple of bad outings but nothing too big. I have a hunch that Tron will be getting better.

I'm worried about starting pitching, as usual.

p.s: Lasorda calls King James "Wee Willie Loney", at least on his Twitter. Do you think King Wee Willie is an excessive nick?