Dodgers sign Juan Nicasio for $2.3 million, avoid salary arbitration

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Friday avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Juan Nicasio, signing the right-hander to a one-year contract for 2015. The deal is worth $2.3 million, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

The Dodgers acquired Nicasio from the Rockies on Nov. 24 for a player to be named later, who eventually became minor league outfielder Noel Cuevas.

Nicasio was 6-6 with a 5.38 ERA for the Rockies in 2014, but it was a tale of two seasons. In 19 starts, Nicasio had a 5.92 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 14-percent strikeout rate and 7.9-percent walk rate. In 14 relief appearances, he had a 3.48 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 21.3-percent strikeout rate and 6.3-percent walk rate.

With five starting pitchers under contract and Nicasio out of options, his role figures to be in relief or the Dodgers in 2015.

"For us, part of the attraction is that he's always been a guy with good stuff," Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said of Nicasio in December. "The fact that he finished the year in the bullpen and pitched extremely well down the stretch in that role certainly was an additional intriguing factor. It makes us think he has the ability he can go to the bullpen and be a strength for the pitching staff in that role."

Nicasio, who has three years, 84 days of service time, made $2.025 million in 2014. For 2015, I guessed a salary of $2.25 million for Nicasio, while MLB Trade Rumors projected a salary of $2.4 million.