Dodgers sign Darwin Barney, tender contracts to remaining 7 arb-eligible players

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Tuesday agreed to a one-year contract with infielder Darwin Barney, avoiding salary arbitration just before Tuesday night's 9 p.m. PT tender deadline. The contract is worth $2.525 million, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

The club also tendered contracts to the other seven players eligible for salary arbitration - closer Kenley Jansen, catchers A.J. Ellis and Drew Butera, infielders Dee Gordon and Justin Turner, outfielder Chris Heisey and pitcher Juan Nicasio.

The club did not discuss any multi-year contracts with any of its arbitration-eligible players, said general manager Farhan Zaidi on a conference call Thursday night. Aside from Barney, Zaidi said there are no other deals imminent with the seven remaining arb players.

"I don't expect a flurry of announcements coming in the next few days," Zaidi said. "It's probably going to be the typical arbitration process with most of these guys."

The deadline to file for arbitration is January 13, with teams and players officially exchanging salary figures on January 16.

Heisey was the latest addition, acquired earlier Tuesday night from the Reds for pitcher Matt Magill. At four years, 157 days of service time, the outfielder is arbitration eligible for a third time. Heisey made $1.76 million in 2014, and was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make $2.2 million through arbitration in 2015.

"One of the areas we're trying to improve is center field depth," Zaidi said. "Chris is a guy who is a good center fielder, a tremendous corner outfielder, a good baserunner, he hits left-handed pitching well. There are a lot of things he brings to the table."

Barney, 29, hit .241/.300/.342 in 94 games between the Cubs and Dodgers in 2014. He was acquired from Chicago on July 28, and hit .303/.467/.424 in 45 plate appearances in 22 games with Los Angeles. The longtime second baseman and 2012 National League Gold Glove Award winner also played two games at shortstop for the Dodgers.

"He's been an everyday player in the big leagues. He's obviously Gold Glove-caliber at second. I also feel he can play an average big league shortstop," Zaidi said. "There are a variety of roles he can fill for this team. That's part of what was so attractive about bringing him back."

The infielder made $2.3 million in 2014 as a first-time arbitration-eligible player. I guessed a salary of $2.6 million for 2015, just above his actual salary.

Barney can also earn up to $175,000 in performance bonuses, per the Associated Press: $25,000 for each of 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375 and 400 plate appearances. Barney made 262 plate appearances in 2014.

With Barney, the Dodgers have $194.525 million committed to 17 players in 2015.