Dodgers News: Bronson Arroyo Signs Contract With Arizona Diamondbacks

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in the market for a starting pitching market for the last few weeks and their prime target has been free agent right-hander Bronson Arroyo.

Arroyo, 36, didn’t have a draft pick attached and complained a week or so ago that he wasn’t given offers to turn down. However, the Dodgers were one of three finalists for his services, but an NL West team is signing him according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports:

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Source: Arroyo agrees with #DBacks.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 7, 2014

Since Masahiro Tanaka decided to sign with the New York Yankees, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks were both interested in adding a starter to their rotations. However, the Diamondbacks have a greater need at the top of their rotation and were willing to accept Arroyo’s terms for multiple years than the Dodgers.

A flyball pitcher, Arroyo is sure to give up quite a few home runs as he allowed an average of 35 home runs in the last three seasons. He’s averaged about 200 innings close to every season in his career and will give the Diamondbacks an innings eater in a tough NL West.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, Arroyo will be in the desert for at least two seasons:

Arroyo’s deal with Arizona: 9.5m in 2014, 9.5m 2015, 4.5m buyout on an $11m option on 2016

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 7, 2014

Free agent signee Dan Haren will take over the Dodgers number four spot in the rotation, but questions remain about who takes over the number five spot. Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley are both on the mend from major off-season surgeries while Stephen Fife, Matt Magill, Ross Stripling and Zach Lee will all be in big league camp.

The Dodgers could also sign free agent starter A.J. Burnett though he’s said to prefer to play on the east coast close to his Maryland home. Free agent pitchers Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez are also on the market, but it’s unlikely that they part with draft pick compensation to sign either play.

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