Dodgers News: Scott Elbert, Drew Butera Tendered Contracts For 2014
The Los Angeles Dodgers spent their Friday afternoon re-signing players to avoid arbitration. Mike Baxter signed a one-year deal after being claimed off waivers in mid-October and they signed two more players.
Relief pitcher Scott Elbert and catcher Drew Butera were both non-tender candidates and it wasn’t known whether management would extend them offers. However, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, both received one-year, non-guaranteed contracts:
#Dodgers sign Scott Elbert and Drew Butera.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 29, 2013
Drew Butera’s deal is for $700k. Scott Elbert will earn $575k.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 29, 2013
Butera was acquired at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins and provides some insurance as he and Tim Federowicz could be battling for the backup catcher job. In four big league seasons, Butera has shown no signs that he can hit, but does provide solid defense, which has kept him in big league circles.
Meanwhile, Elbert didn’t pitch during the 2013 season and underwent Tommy John surgery in early June. He shouldn’t be expected back until the latter part of the 2014 season. In his five year Dodger career, the 28-year-old lefty is 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA, holding left-handed batters to a .231 batting average.
Other arbitration candidates include ace Clayton Kershaw, closer Kenley Jansen, catcher A.J. Ellis and reliever Ronald Belisario. The deadline to tender contracts is on Monday so expect Kershaw, Ellis and Jansen to receive offers, while Belisario could be non-tendered.
The Dodgers and Kershaw will spend the winter trying to agree to a long-term deal as the two sides reportedly talked about a contract several times during the season.
Butera and Elbert shouldn’t have an impact with the big club this season and will continue to provide organizational depth.
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ICYMI: The Dodgers and Dan Haren agreed to a one-year deal last Sunday
