Kenley Jansen, 3 other Dodgers file for salary arbitration

LOS ANGELES -- Kenley Jansen filed for salary arbitration on Tuesday, one of four Dodgers to do so, joining infielder Justin Turner, pitcher Juan Nicasio and outfielder Chris Heisey.

This is the first of two steps this week in the arbitration process, followed by players and teams exchanging salary figures on Friday.

Earlier Tuesday, catcher A.J. Ellis avoided arbitration with a one-year, $4.25 million contract for 2015, a 19.7-percent raise over his 2014 salary.

In his nine years in Tampa Bay, new Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman used a "file and trial" philosophy, meaning if player and team couldn't come to an agreement before the player filed for arbitration, negotiations would end and both sides would go to a hearing.

The Rays had five arbitration hearings during Friedman's time, and won all five. He said in November he wasn't sure if he would institute that policy in Los Angeles as well.

The Dodgers haven't had an arbitration hearing since defeating Joe Beimel in 2007. Since then the Dodgers in the last seven years saw 25 players file for salary arbitration, 10 of which exchanged salary figures, but all reached a settlement.

Jansen, who has four years, 73 days of service time, made $4.3 million in 2014. I guessed a salary for $8 million in 2015 for Jansen, while MLB Trade Rumors projected $8.2 million.

Turner made $1 million last year after making the team on a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training. He has four years, 45 days of service time. I guessed a salary of $2.6 million for Turner in 2015, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting $2.2 million.

Nicasio, acquired from the Rockies on Nov. 24, made $2.025 million in 2014, and has three years, 84 days of service time. I guessed a salary of $2.25 million for Nicasio, while MLB Trade Rumors projected $2.4 million.

The Dodgers traded for Heisey on Dec. 2. The former Reds outfielder has four years, 157 days of service time, and made $1.76 million in 2014. I guessed a salary of $2.35 million in 2015 for Heisey, while MLB Trade Rumors projected $2.2 million