Dodgers Team News

Dodgers and Scott Alexander Avoid Arbitration with 1-Year Deal

The Dodgers avoided arbitration with left-handed reliever Scott Alexander after agreeing to terms on a 1 year, $875,000 deal, according to Bob Nightengale.

This is the first season that Alexander, 30, was arbitration-eligible—meaning the Dodgers have team control over him until 2023. He was projected to receive $1 million this season.

Acquired from the Royals in the 2018 off-season, Alexander was a key member of the bullpen that season. He pitched 66 innings and posted a 3.68 ERA and 3.57 FIP with a 70.9% ground ball rate.

Last season, Alexander was limited to 17 1/3 innings after dealing with nerve problems and forearm inflammation in his pitching arm. In September, he underwent a left forearm nerve decompression procedure, according to Jorge Castillo.

Moreover, the left-hander was identified as a non-tender candidate last week. Yimi Garcia remains on the bubble from that list.

In 177 1/3 career innings, Alexander has pitched to a 3.20 ERA, 3.57 FIP and 70.8% ground ball rate.

Hopefully, Alexander can get back to full health and fill the Dodgers need for a ground ball specialist while also being the second left-handed reliever after Adam Kolarek—especially if Julio Urias moves to the rotation.

If Alexander can get back around his 2017-18 form, the $1 million price tag will be a steal. If he can’t, the cost is low enough where there is hardly any risk.

Blake Williams

I graduated with an Associate's Degree in Journalism from Los Angeles Pierce College and now I'm working towards my Bachelor's at Cal State University, Northridge. I'm currently the managing editor for the Roundup News and a writer for Dodgers Nation. Around the age of 12, I fell in love with baseball and in high school, I realized my best path to working in baseball was as a writer, so that's the path I followed. I also like to bring an analytics viewpoint to my work and I'm always willing to help someone understand them since so many people have done the same for me. Thanks for reading!

9 Comments

  1. Scott “Nervous” Alexander (75) What a waste of money and bullpen space this kid does not have what it takes to be a successful reliever in a big game period Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts should know that by now?

    1. His job is to come in and pound the zone with sinkers yet he does the worst possible thing for a 1 or 2 batter pitcher and nibbles ending in disaster

  2. Did someone tell Dave Roberts he has to use Alexander for more than one hitter now? Between him and Kolarek (sp?) Doc might suffer a breakdown, having to figure out how to use a lefty reliever.

  3. The Dodgers signed Alexander to avoid arbitration because the other lefty BP targets, Smith and Pomerantz, who were targeted by the Dodgers signed with the Braves and Padres respectively. Why? Perhaps like most FA’s they saw the Dodgers as not such an attractive draw and after what Roberts did to help sabotage the NLDS, they signed elsewhere, just a guess here. After all, the Dodgers first move was to re-sign the WORST hitting catcher in all of baseball in Gale. I mean Rocky Gale makes Austin Barnes look like Johnny Bench or Mike Piazza.

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