December 2nd, 2020 at 9:20 am 
by Ron Cervenka Per USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale (via Twitter), 31-year-old Dodgers left-hander Scott Alexander has agreed to a one-year / $1 million deal for the 2021 season, thus avoiding arbitration.
The Santa Rosa, CA native and sixth-round draft pick in 2010 out of Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA by the Kansas City Royals posted a 2-0 record and 2.92 ERA over 12 1/3 innings pitched in 2020 for the World Series Champion Dodgers.
(Photo credit – Keith Birmingham)
Per Nightengale, Alexander’s contract is fully guaranteed, as opposed to the usual contracts for arbitration-eligible players that allows teams to release them prior to Opening Day, thus being obligated to pay only a fraction of the agreed-upon salary.
As Dodger fans know, Alexander was not included on the Dodgers 2020 World Series roster, but instead was at the ready at the team’s alternate training site at the University of Southern California.
With the Alexander signing and as of this writing, the Dodgers still have six arbitration-eligible players (Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Dylan Floro, Corey Seager, and Julio Urías), who must either be offered a contract by 5 p.m. PT tonight or granted free agency … which is very unlikely.
Stay tuned…
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One million dollars is relatively small amount for a MLB relief pitcher, but signing Alexander to a guaranteed contract is a head scratcher. Dodgers had nothing to lose by signing him to a non-guaranteed arbitration contract, even it it were $100,000 higher. Could the Dodgers already have a team lined-up for a trade? Team that desperately needed a LH’er in the bullpen, willing to pay $1 million, but did not want to negotiate with Alexander as a free agent? Dodgers not including Alexander on either the 2019, or 2020 playoff rosters is not a vote of confidence.
Funny you should mention that. Although light, there has already been a little chatter on Twitter that the Angels might be kicking the tires on him. He would be a good fit there.
As noted, stay tuned…
I have no problem with the signing. 1 million for 162 is nothing, what if they only play 80? Then he cost 500,000. Maybe mcgee wants multi yr and 3 mil plus.
Alexander has been a little better than average reliever the past two yrs and we don’t know if he was unable to perform in the post season for a variety of health reasons. He is diabetic.
Also if roster are kept at 26 or even 27 he is just another Lefty reliever on the squad.
Late Wednesday afternoon, it was reported (on Twitter) that the Dodgers had tendered all six of their arbitration-eligible players:
Great news indeed.
Dodgers aquired Corey Knabel from Brewers. Former closer had TJ Surgery in 2019 pitched some innings last yr. Hopefully he returns to form.