Skip to main content

The Los Angeles Dodgers and 1B/OF Cody Bellinger avoided arbitration on Friday after both parties agreed to terms of a record setting $11.5 million deal for 2020, according to Dodgers beat reporter Ken Gurnick

Bellinger’s $11.5 million deal is now the most ever for a first time-eligible player after surpassing the Chicago Cubs’ third baseman Kris Bryant 2019  $10.85 million deal.

The 2019 National League MVP finished the season leading the league in WAR (9.0), which was 1.9 points ahead of Christian Yelich, and third in home runs (47). 

According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, 20 MLB players were unable to reach agreements with their respective teams and are expected to proceed to arbitration hearings.

Among those 20 players are the Dodgers’ P Pedro Baez, INF Max Muncy, 1B/OF Joc Pederson, and INF/OF Chris Taylor.

The Dodgers and SS Corey Seager also reached an agreement of $7.6 million for the 2020 season. Pitcher Julio Urias also agreed to a one-year $1 million deal.

The Dodgers will head into spring training without any new major additions to the team, having struck out on, now Yankees ace, Gerrit Cole. According to MLB on Fox reporter Ken Rosenthal, the team was also at one point interested in signing, now Angel, Anthony Rendon. 

The Dodgers also lost the 2019 MLB ERA leader, Hyun-Jin Ryu to the Toronto Blue Jays after signing a four-year $80 million deal.