Since the World Series ended on Wednesday night, we are now officially in Major League Baseball's offseason. The first official step of the hot stove season is free agency granted to those with at least six years of service time, and at the end of their contracts. The Dodgers have 10 players granted free agency at 6 a.m. PT on Thursday, including Juan Uribe, Ricky Nolasco and Brian Wilson.
Nolasco, who turns 31 in December, made $11.5 million in 2013, the final season of a three-year contract signed with the Marlins. Nolasco was 13-11 with a 3.70 ERA in 34 games, including 33 starts in 2013, with 165 strikeouts and 46 walks in 199⅓ innings. Using the Lincecum scale, that means north of two years, $35 million could be coming his way. Or maybe potential suitors will focus on his 22 runs allowed in 17 innings over his final five appearances, including the playoffs. After the Dodgers acquired Nolasco in July, he was 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 21 walks in 87 innings.
Uribe, 34, made $7 million in the final season of his three-year contract with the Dodgers, and had arguably his finest season. He hit .278/.331/.438 with 12 home runs and 22 doubles, and was a finalist for the National League Gold Glove Award at third base.
Wilson signed with the Dodgers for $1 million in July and by October was the primary setup man to closer Kenley Jansen. Including the playoffs, Wilson struck out 21 in 19⅔ innings and allowed just one run. I'm sure the Dodgers would want Wilson back for his age-32 season and beyond, but he's bound to find more lucrative opportunities to be a closer elsewhere.
J.P. Howell had a fantastic season in the Dodgers bullpen, at 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 67 appearances, with 54 strikeouts and 23 walks in 62 innings and held left-handed batters to hitting just .164/.225/.227. Howell, who turns 31 in April, made $2.85 million in base salary in 2013 plus another $700,000 in performance bonuses based on games and innings pitched.
Skip Schumaker, who turns 34 in February, made $1.5 million in the final year of a two-year deal signed with the Cardinals. The Dodgers traded for Schumaker last December, and he hit .263/.332/.332 with 16 doubles and two home runs in 125 games in 2013. Schumaker started 18 games at second base in 2013, 12 starts in center field, 10 in left field, and four more in right field. He also started five playoff games in center field in place of the injured Andre Ethier, and Schumaker even pitched two scoreless innings in a pair of pitching appearances.
Nick Punto, who turns 36 on Nov. 8, like Schumaker made $1.5 million in 2013 in the final season of a two-year contract. Punto hit .255/.328/.327 in 116 games, and the switch-hitter started 33 games at shortstop, 21 games at second base, and 17 games at third base.
Jerry Hairston, Jr., who will turn 38 in May, made $3.75 million in the final season of a two-year contract with the Dodgers. He hit .211/.265/.275 with two home runs in 96 games, but was left off the Dodgers playoff roster in both the NLDS and NLCS. Hairston in 2013 started 19 games at third base, 15 games in left field, seven games at first base, and two games in right field. He also played one game at second base, totaling one inning.
Michael Young, 37, was acquired by the Dodgers from the Phillies on Aug. 31, and hit .314/.321/.392 in 21 games during the season's final month, though he was just 1-for-10 during the postseason. Young, who made $16 million in the final season of a five-year, $80 million contract in 2013, hit .279/.335/.395 combined between Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Carlos Marmol was acquired via trade from the Cubs in July, and was about as good as the Dodgers could have expected. Marmol put up a 2.53 ERA in 21 games with the Dodgers and had 27 strikeouts in 21⅓ innings. But because he is Marmol, he also walked 19. On the season Marmol, 31, was 2-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 52 games with 59 strikeouts and 40 walks in 52 innings.
Edinson Volquez, 30, was released by the Padres in August and picked up to give extra rest to the Dodgers rotation during the season's final month. Volquez ended up making five starts an put up a 4.18 ERA in 28 innings with the Dodgers, with 26 strikeouts and eight walks. Volquez was added to the Dodgers' NLCS roster but didn't pitch against the Cardinals.
There is a quiet period in MLB though Monday at 8:59 p.m. PT, during which teams can talk to free agents from other teams all they want, but cannot sign them until after the deadline. Free agents are free to sign with their old team at any time.
The Dodgers now have 35 players left on the 40-man roster, including Mark Ellis, who has a 2014 club option for $5.75 million, and Chris Capuano, who has a mutual option for $8 million. Both options have $1 million buyouts.