Pedro Baez avoids salary arbitration with reported 1-year, $1.5 million contract with Dodgers

The Dodgers on Thursday avoided salary arbitration with relief pitcher Pedro Baez, inking the right-hander to a $1.5 million deal for 2018, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Baez and catcher Yasmani Grandal agreed to terms on Thursday to avoid arbitration, leaving five Dodgers still eligible for the process — Alex Wood, Joc Pederson, Kiké Hernandez, Josh Fields and Tony Cingrani. The deadline for players and teams to exchange salary figures is Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

Baez is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time, with his three years, 59 days of accumulated major league service.

The right-hander posted a 2.95 ERA in his team-leading 66 games in 2017, with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks in 64 innings. Baez made the Dodgers’ roster for the NLDS against the Diamondbacks but did not pitch.

The converted former third baseman, who turns 29 in March, has a 3.04 ERA in four seasons in relief for the Dodgers, with 225 strikeouts and 67 walks in 213 innings.

I guessed a $1.4 million salary for Baez in 2018, while MLB Trade Rumors pegged him at $1.5 million.