Dodgers exchange 2020 salary figures with four players

Friday January 10th was the deadline for arbitration-eligible players and their teams to reach agreements before submitting salary figures for possible arbitration hearings in February.

The Dodgers did reach agreements with five players which included a new record salary for a first-year arbitration-eligible player.

Cody Bellinger was a Super-Two player which means he has four arbitration-eligible seasons before reaching free agency. Bellinger’s reported $11.5M 2020 salary broke Kris Bryant’s $10.85M salary figure that Bryant received for his 2018 season.

However, the Dodgers did not reach agreements with four players and if they follow their “file and trial” mentality, the Dodgers could be heading for their first arbitration hearings since 2007.

The four players include first-time arbitration eligible player Max Muncy, second-timer Chris Taylor and in their final arbitration-eligible periods, Joc Pederson and Pedro Baez.

Arbitration hearings will begin in February, teams and players can still negotiate prior to the hearings but as noted above, the Dodgers are a team that claims that will not engage with the player once each side submits salary figures.

It should also be noted that all of these players are under contract and should have these matters settled before spring training games begin in late February.