#los-angeles-dodgers

#los-angeles-dodgers

The Dodgers won't be heading to an arbitration hearing after all. Outfielder Alex Call (one-year, $1.6 million) and relief pitchers Anthony Banda (one-year, $1.625 million) and Brock Stewart (one-year, $1.3 million) each avoided arbitration, coming to an agreement with the Dodgers before Thursday's MLB arbitration deadline, people familiar with the situation but unauthorized to speak publicly confirmed to The Times.

"Any team that exceeds the base luxury-tax threshold for three or more consecutive years pays a 50 percent penalty for every dollar it goes above," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. "Any team that exceeds the base threshold by $60 million or more pays an additional 60 percent surcharge. "The Los Angeles Dodgers qualify on both counts, so their penalty for signing Tucker or any of the other remaining free agents would be 110 percent. At a $40 million AAV, Tucker would cost them $84 million. At a $35 million AAV, the number would be a mere $73.5 million."

The Los Angeles Dodgers currently possess the most talented roster in the sport. It's a loaded group featuring accomplished veterans, superstars in their proverbial primes, and up-and-coming talents. In terms of an all-time classification, greatness individually speaking is often categorized by a possible induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. When looking at this current group, recently retired Clayton Kershaw is essentially a lock to be a first-ballot inductee in Cooperstown.

Will Smith was a first-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of Louisville and signed on July 17, 2016. He spent parts of four seasons working his way up through the Dodgers' farm system and was eventually promoted to the Majors on May 27, 2019, to replace the injured Austin Barnes. Smith made a good first impression, hitting .269/.345/.654 in 26 at-bats during his first two months in the Majors.

The Dodgers drafted Cody Bellinger in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft, and as a prospect, he helped the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to a Cal League championship while winning the series MVP. That helped put Bellinger on the map as he developed into one of the top prospects in baseball before making his MLB debut during the 2017 season.

The right-hander began his pro career this past season after being signed by the Marlins during the 2024-2025 international signing period out of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Marrero pitched 33 innings in the Dominican Summer League, allowing 14 earned runs (3.82 ERA) on 32 hits with 35 strikeouts and 12 walks. He appeared in 10 games, all of them starts.

Ruiz only appeared in 19 games for the Dodgers this past season, batting .190/.261/.333 with one home run, two RBI, two runs scored, four stolen bases and a 67 wRC+ across 23 plate appearances. Once a former top prospect, Ruiz has appeared in 197 games over parts of four seasons. He's spent time with the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in addition to the Athletics and Dodgers.

The MLB offseason slowed down in recent weeks after a few big name free agents were taken off the board, including the best closer in baseball: Edwin Diaz. Since the Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal, the defending champions have been quiet as have most other teams around the league. Things are expected to pick up as 2026 begins, and the Dodgers have continued their offseason moves by trading Ruiz.

The Los Angeles Dodgers finished second in a poll from The Athletic to decide which team had the best front office in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

The competitive balance tax (CBT) threshold continued its growth for the 2025 MLB season with a new high of $241 million, but the Dodgers far surpassed it with a payroll of $417.3 million. The Dodgers were hit with additional surcharges as a result of going over the luxury tax threshold for at least three straight seasons and their total over the CBT threshold.