The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the offseason with five players eligible for salary arbitration, and if Matt Beaty had accrued one more day of Major League service time this past season, he would have qualified as well via Super Two status.
The cutoff for the 2021 season was set at two years and 116 days, per Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors. A stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City in September resulted in Beaty not being eligible for arbitration until after the 2022 season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the demotion was largely a result of a roster crunch and not due to performance. Gavin Lux also was optioned to OKC at the time, and both players rejoined the Dodgers two weeks after getting sent down.
Although Beaty received regular starts during his time with Oklahoma City, he acknowledged it was a frustrating stretch.
This year’s Super Two cutoff has been confirmed at 2.116.
— timdierkes (@timdierkes) November 27, 2021
The 28-year-old continued to receive the bulk of his opportunities as a pinch-hitter after getting recalled, which was a role Roberts clearly envisioned as being best.
“I like Matt Beaty on the bench,” he explained in late September. “I don’t see him as a defender. I see him taking a great at-bat against a right-hander.”
Earlier in the season, Roberts said the best way for Beaty to help the Dodgers was as a pinch-hitter who makes occasional starts.
Did Dodgers manipulate Beaty’s service time?
Some teams have kept players in the Minor Leagues for the first few weeks of a season in order to impact their service time and tack on a year of control.
However, accusing the Dodgers of doing such with Beaty is misguided. They have proven willing to call up prospects when necessary and in the best interest of the player and team, and there was no definitive knowledge of knowing what the Super Two cutoff would be.
In 2020 the threshold was set at two years and 125 days, and in 2019 it was two years and 115 days.
Walker Buehler qualified as a Super Two player after the 2020 season.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
