Six Los Angeles Dodgers officially filed for salary arbitration on Tuesday. The players union announced a total of 156 players filed for arbitration.
The Dodgers’ group consists of left-handed relief pitcher Luis Avilan, catcher Yasmani Grandal, right-handed reliever Chris Hatcher, closer Kenley Jansen, third baseman Justin Turner and outfielder/first baseman Scott Van Slyke.
All of the aforementioned players were tendered contracts by the Dodgers last December.
For Avilan, Grandal, Hatcher and Van Slyke, this marks the first time in their respective careers they are going through the arbitration process.
Meanwhile, Jansen and Turner are both entering the final season before being eligible for free agency.
Including time with the Atlanta Braves, Avilan finished the 2015 season with 4.05 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.18 WHIP and 49 strikeouts to 15 walks in 53.1 innings (73 appearances).
Grandal was as-advertised in the first half of the season. Along with bringing his framing skill set behind the plate, Grandal swung a big bat prior to the All-Star break — hitting .282/.401/.526 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .399 wOBA and 159 wRC+ over 69 games (61 starts).
However, he slumped after the break, largely a result of a shoulder injury that required surgery once the Dodgers were eliminated from the National League Division Series.
Hatcher struggled early, then was much-improved after being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Opponents hit just .181/.253/.347 and Hatcher posted a 1.31 ERA with 26 strikeouts over his last 22 appearances (20.2 innings) to close the season out.
Jansen missed all of April as he recovered from offseason foot surgery but was his usual self upon returning. He finished the year with 36 saves, 2.41 ERA, averaged 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings, and led all relievers who threw 40 innings or more with a 0.78 WHIP.
Turner played in a career-high 126 games, batting .294/.370/.491 with 16 home runs, 26 doubles, 60 RBIs, a .371 wOBA and 141 wRC+ while spending much of the season as the Dodgers’ No. 3 hitter in the lineup.
Van Slyke hit .239/.317/.383 over 96 games, but was slowed by a hand injury down the stretch and left off the postseason roster.
Los Angeles avoided arbitration with A.J. Ellis and Joe Wieland by re-signing the duo last month. Ellis agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, while Wieland returned on a one-year, $590,000 deal.
However, the right-handed Wieland was traded to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for Minor League infielder Erick Mejia.
The salary exchange date for those who filed is Friday, with individual players and clubs submitting a figure for next season. Sides are permitted to continue negotiating even after filing for arbitration and exchanging figures.
During his days in the Tampa Bay Rays front office, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman didn’t negotiate after the filing date, instead letting the matter play out in a hearing.
Should a hearing be needed, they will be held in February in front of a three-person panel. The Dodgers’ last hearing was in 2007 with reliever Joe Beimel.
