Dodgers News: LA Avoids Arbitration with Multiple Players

Walker Buehler, Will Smith, and more will be getting nice raises in 2023.

Friday is the deadline for teams to work out contracts with arbitration eligible players before potentially heading to a hearing. The Dodgers have 10 arb-eligible players including several due for big raises in 2023.

We'll continue updating this article throughout the day with the latest news and updates on new arbitration deals.

First up, Walker Buehler and the Dodgers agreed to an $8.025 million deal for 2023, a raise from the $4.25 he made in 2022. Of course, Buehler will miss most (or all) of the 2023 season as he recovers from August Tommy John Surgery.

Sources confirm the Dodgers and Walker Buehler have agreed on a $8.025 million deal for next year to avoid arbitration, as @Fiensand first reported

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 13, 2023

Catcher Will Smith also gets his first big pay day as he agreed to a $5.25 million deal for 2023. Smith has grown into one of the top catchers in the game since his 2019 debut. Despite a somewhat down year by his standards in 2022, Will was still second on the team in home runs (24) and third in runs batted in (87).

#Dodgers and Will Smith settle at $5.25 million to avoid arbitration, per source.

— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) January 13, 2023

The Dodgers and LHP Caleb Ferguson also came to terms on a $1.1 million deal, avoiding arbitration in his first year of eligibility.

Source: Dodgers, Caleb Ferguson settle at $1.1 million to avoid arbitration.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 13, 2023

Next up, Trayce Thompson agreed to a $1.45 million deal for 2023, earning a nice bump over the major league minimum.

Trayce Thompson and Dodgers settle at $1.45 million to avoid arbitration, source confirms. @JonHeyman on it

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 13, 2023

Dustin May and the Dodgers also avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1.675 million deal for the upcoming season.

Dodgers and Dustin May have agreed to a $1.675 million deal for next year to avoid arbitration, per his agent, Craig Rose of Paragon Sports

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 13, 2023

UPDATES

Julio Urias came to terms with the team on a $14.25 million deal in his final year of arbitration. It marks a $6.25 million raise over 2022 and a bit more than the $13.7 million that projections had him at.

Source: Dodgers, Julio Urías settle at $14.25 million to avoid arbitration. Urías is a free agent after this year. On it: @BNightengale.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 13, 2023

Yency Almonte also agreed to terms for 2023. Word is he and the Dodgers agreed to a $1.5 million deal, $500k over salary arbitration projections.

Happy arbitration exchange day. #Dodgers agreements so far (h/t various reports):
Urias $14.25m
Buehler $8.025m
Smith $5.25m
May $1.675m
Almonte $1.5m
Thompson $1.45m
Ferguson $1.1m
Still to go -- Gonsolin, Phillips, Graterol

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) January 13, 2023

Brusdar Graterol settled at $1.225 million, just north of the projected $1.2M.

Sources: Dodgers and Brusdar Graterol have agreed to a $1.225 million deal for next year to avoid arbitration

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 13, 2023

The final reliever on this list is also perhaps the most important to LA's planning in 2023. RHP Evan Phillips agreed to a $1.3 million deal, falling just $100k below projections.

Source: Evan Phillips and the Dodgers have agreed on a $1.3 million deal for next year to avoid arbitration

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 13, 2023

As it stands heading toward the end of the evening on Friday, the Dodgers and Tony Gonsolin have yet to reach an agreement ($3.5 million projected). There's still time between now and an actual arbitration hearing, but don't be surprised if it does end up that far.