Dodgers suspend Erisbel Arruebarrena for remainder of 2015 season

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena has been suspended by the team for the remainder of the 2015 season "for repeated failures to comply with his contract," the team announced on Thursday.

The infielder hasn't played for any of the four Dodgers minor league affiliates currently in season, and was held back for extended spring training at the club's facility at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

"Erisbel is still a developing athlete. Our plan is to work with him in Arizona for a while," Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler said in April. "We'll examine and explore multiple ways of sharpening his all-around game."

That all-around game is now off for the rest of the season, with team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman telling Bill Plunkett of Orange County Register the suspension of Arruebarrena was "an internal matter."

Arruebarrena hit .259/.304/.417 in 68 games across four minor league levels in 2014, and in 22 major league games was 8-for-41 (.195) with a double, three walks and 17 strikeouts. He started nine games at shortstop for Los Angeles last year.

He was designated for assignment on Dec. 31, removing him from the 40-man roster, and sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Jan. 9 after clearing waivers.

The Dodgers signed Arruebarrena, now 25, to a five-year, $25 million contract in February 2014 that included a $7.5 million signing bonus. He has a $3 million salary in 2015 which, if the Dodgers have their way, will not be paid.

Arruebarrena, who has 74 days of major league service time and two option years remaining, has three more seasons and $13 million remaining on his contract after 2015.