The Los Angeles Dodgers non-tendered catcher Russell Martin, pitcher George Sherrill, and outfielder Trent Oeltjen, making all three free agents. Tonight at 9 p.m. PST was the deadline to tender contracts to players under reserve. The Dodgers did tender contracts to the other three players eligible for salary arbitration: pitchers Chad Billingsley and Hong-Chih Kuo, and first baseman James Loney.
Martin hit .248/.347/.332 in 2010, but missed the final two months after tearing the labrum in his right hip. He made $5.05 million in 2010, and figured to make at least $6 million through arbitration had he been tendered a contract. At the very least, tendering a contract would have meant the least Martin could make in 2011 would be $4.04 million, as players under reserve cannot have their salary cut by more than 20%. Now, as a free agent, Martin can be signed to any contract, but he is also free to negotiate with other teams.
Sherrill made $4.5 million last year, making payday the only positive of 2010 for him. Sherrill put up a 6.69 ERA on the season, which began with Sherrill as the setup man for Jonathan Broxton but ended with Sherrill as a situational left-hander. Oeltjen had five hits in 23 at-bats in 14 games for the Dodgers in 2010.
Billingsley was 12-11 with a 3.57 ERA in 2010, during which he made $3.85 million. Kuo filled in at times as closer in 2010, and set the Dodger franchise record with a 1.20 ERA, while making $950,000. Loney hit .267/.329/.395 with 10 home runs and 88 RBI, and made $3.1 million in 2010. All three are eligible for salary arbitration through the 2012 season.
There are now 36 players on the Dodgers' 40-man roster.
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