Nearly the entire National League West Division - Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks - avoided arbitration with key players over the past couple of days.
We'll just go down the list, starting with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team avoided arbitration with outfielder Chris Heisey, who they acquired in a trade earlier this offseason with the Cincinnati Reds. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the two agreed on a one-year, $2.16 million deal on Thursday. The 30-year-old was in his second year of arbitration eligibility and slashed .222/.265/.378 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 119 games last season.
In San Francisco, the Giants retained a key pitcher in Yusmeiro Petit on a one-year, $2.1 million contract, according to Heyman. The 30-year-old was a key piece of the team's pitching staff last season and was solid throughout their run to a World Series championship. The right-hander went 5-5 with a 3.69 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 39 games (12 starts) during the regular season and was 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in four postseason games (12 2/3 innings in relief). He might be a full-time starter in 2015.
The Padres avoided arbitration with their (likely) Opening Day starter at shortstop. San Diego agreed to a two-year, $2.5 million contract with Alexi Amarista, Heyman notes. The 25-year-old was used at shortstop, second base, third base and the outfield last season, but now that the team released Everth Cabrera it looks like the shortstop position is Amarista's to lose. He slashed .239/.286/.314 with 39 runs scored, five home runs, 40 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 148 games.
But perhaps the most significant signing occurred in Arizona on Friday. The Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson with a one-year, $4.275 million deal, Heyman reports. Arizona acquired Hellickson from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade earlier this offseason to join their re-tooled starting rotation. The former AL Rookie of the Year returned to the Rays in July after recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow and went 1-5 with a 4.52 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 13 starts. Hellickson's first two full seasons were tremendous and his last two were poor (he's been a full-time starter for four total years), so it'll be interesting to see how he performs in Arizona.
With more players set to enter arbitration hearings, expect more news regarding such signings over the next few weeks.
UPDATE: According to Heyman, the Los Angeles Dodgers have settled with pitcher Juan Nicasio for one-year and $2.3 million; the San Diego Padres avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Andrew Cashner on a one-year, $4.05 million deal; and the final NL West team, the Colorado Rockies, settled with starter Jhoulys Chacin for one year and $5.5 million.
UPDATE: The Dodgers have also avoided arbitration with closer Kenley Jansen ($7.425 million) and infielder Justin Turner ($2.5 million), according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
UPDATE: The San Diego Padres have reached an agreement with starter Ian Kennedy, according to Mike Perchick of WAPT. Kennedy will make $9.85 million in 2015. They also settled with starter Tyson Ross for $5.25 million in 2015.
UPDATE: According to Henry Schulman of the San Francsico Chronicle, the Giants signed outfielder Gregor Blanco to a two-year, $7.5 million deal to avoid arbitration.
