Allen Lieu
The Los Angeles Dodgers currently have six players that are arbitration eligible for the upcoming 2015 season. This year’s group includes: A.J. Ellis, Darwin Barney, Dee Gordon, Drew Butera, Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen.
How does the arbitration process work and what are the requirements for players to be eligible for this process?
The process starts with both sides (the player and the team) submitting salary figures in which they think is fair. Most players submit the value that they desire higher than what the team designates. Once the figures are submitted, the numbers go to a team of arbitrators, where each side makes their case on why they deserve that figure. There is no settling in the middle and the arbitrators must choose either the player’s value or the team’s value of that player. What plays into the factors for the decision are based on the position, as well as games played, offensive stats (HRs, RBIs, SBs, BBs, OPS, etc), and defensive stats.
The requirements to become arbitration eligible are listed below from mlb.com: A player with three or more years of service, but less than six years, may file for salary arbitration. In addition, a player can be classified as a “Super Two” and be eligible for arbitration with less than three years of service. A player with at least two but less than three years of Major League service shall be eligible for salary arbitration if he has accumulated at least 86 days of service during the immediately preceding season and he ranks in the top 22 percent (increased from 17 percent in previous agreements) in total service in the class of Players who have at least two but less than three years of Major League service, however accumulated, but with at least 86 days of service accumulated during the immediately preceding season.
Teams sometimes will reach an agreement with the player before the arbitration process. The player and team will negotiate and agree to terms that are sometimes in the middle of both submitted salary figures.
The Dodgers will definitely offer contracts to Dee Gordon, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner. Gordon, Jansen and Turner will be line for a raise with their stellar 2014 season. A.J. Ellis numbers for the 2014 season will not help his cause if he asks for more money. Drew Butera will most likely see a raise . Darwin Barney may also see a raise as this is his first time as arbitration eligible.
