January 12th, 2019 at 9:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka While much of the baseball world was buzzing about the surprise trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Dodgers that brought soon-to-be 36-year old Canadian-born catcher Russell Martin back to the Dodgers after an eight-year separation, there was some other significant news that came out of Chavez Ravine on Friday.
Shortly after Friday’s 10 a.m. (PT) arbitration deadline, the Dodgers announced that they had come to terms with all seven of their remaining arbitration-eligible players, bringing their current 40-man roster to 39.
Topping the list of Dodgers arbitration-eligible players was 26-year-old outfielder Joc Pederson at $5 million, followed by 24-year-old shortstop Corey Seager, who figures to be ready to go on Opening Day following Tommy John surgery in May of 2018 and hip surgery in September, at $4 million. The complete list is as follows:
- Joc Pederson – $5 million
- Corey Seager – $4 million
- Kiké Hernandez – $3.725 million
- Chris Taylor – $3.5 million
- Josh Fields – $2.85 million
- Pedro Baez – $2.1 million
- Yimi Garcia – $710,000
As a point of reference, the MLB minimum salary in 2019 is $555,000.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
With Friday’s surprise signing of Martin, the Dodgers will enter spring training camp with four catchers currently on their 40-man roster: Martin, 29-year-old Austin Barnes, 30-year-old Rocky Gale, and 20-year-old Dodgers number-one overall ranked prospect Keibert Ruiz.
That being said and due to the large number of pitchers who will be in major league spring training camp when pitchers and catchers report on or about February 12, Dodgers fifth overall ranked prospect Will Smith, and fellow minor league catchers Connor Wong and Steve Berman will probably receive non-roster invitations to big league camp, among others.
Play Ball!
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Yeah, the roster could be about set and the Dodgers ready to “Play Ball”.
However, I’d like to think all the luxury tax maneuvering with the Cincinnati trade and the Martin signing means there is still something big to come. The current roster has the makings of a good team, but not a great team unless the pitching really shines.
Now that the arbitration numbers are known, anybody seen where the Dodgers 2019 luxury tax payroll stands?
According to Eric Stephen (always a very reliable source), the Dodgers still have about $20 million to work with.
That leaves room to sign a bat, like Pollock or Adam Jones, and trade for Gennet or Whitfield. If those moves were made the team would be alot stronger. Then add a Kubler type arm at the deadline. Wow!
Can’t see Dodgers signing 30 yr old Pollock. He wants around 5 yrs, $80M and he would cost the Dodgers the 31st pick in this years MLB draft.
Jones is a name I haven’t seen mentioned much. Only costs money, who knows?
I’m sure Friedman has already checked in on Gennett and Whitfield, multiple times, along with several other teams. Cost too high.
Kluber/Bauer, maybe, where there is smoke there could be fire. Although, I don’t see Dodgers trading Verdugo anymore.
Signing Jones would be a bigger mistake than signing Pollock who is over-rated and as you pointed out results in forfeiture of Dodgers draft pick and loss of $500K in international spending pool. I agree (and hope) Verdugo not going anywhere.