Orlando Hudson-7.99 Million Dollars-Type ADecision: Re-signing him would be the ideal scenario, but he doesn't wish to return to the Dodgers, so they should offer him arbitration and take the draft pick.
With 631 plate appearances this year, Hudson ended up making 7.99 million, which is quite a healthy sum considering he was only guaranteed to make 3.38 million this season.
Hudson was a solid signing that was well worth the money he ended up making, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to attempt to retain his services for next year. However, losing his starting spot at the end of the season essentially eliminated any chance the Dodgers had at re-signing him.
Since a new contract is out of the question, offering arbitration becomes obvious. If he accepts, the Dodgers no longer have a hole at second base, and he will return on a reasonable contract. If he declines, the Dodgers would likely get a first round pick as compensation since Hudson is a Type A free agent. This should be an easy decision.
Randy Wolf-8 Million Dollars-Type A
Decision: I would like to sign him to another short deal, but that's unlikely, so offering him arbitration and collecting another draft pick seems like the way to go.
Like Hudson, Wolf had to meet a lot of performance bonuses to make his 8 million this year. Going into the season, he was only guaranteed 5 million, but he finally stayed healthy for a full season, and he met all six of his incentives.
Wolf proved to be the best starting pitcher on the Dodgers in 2009, justifying his contract and then some. However, I doubt he wants to come back on another short deal, as he's around the age where he could get one more 3-year contract. While Wolf stayed healthy this year, he did perform a bit above his skill set, and he's not a risk I would want to take over a long period with guaranteed money, especially with so many prospects just waiting to get their shot in the rotation.
I wouldn't have a problem with the Dodgers giving him a 1-year deal for more guaranteed money, but I find that scenario highly unlikely. Thus, the best option would be to offer him arbitration. If he accepts, the Dodgers get a solid middle of the rotation guy on a short contract. If he declines, the Dodgers likely get a first round pick out of him.
Jon Garland-8.75 Million Dollars-Type B
Decision: A far more unnecessary piece than Wolf, Garland isn't likely to return on a short contract either. Furthermore, there's a risk he may accept arbitration, and that's a gamble i'm not willing to take.
His base salary in 2009 was 6.25 million, but it became 8.75 million after the buyout of 2.5 million was exercised. He would likely not get any less than that in arbitration, so he becomes a decent risk to accept an arbitration offer and come back for a large sum of guaranteed money.
I discussed why I wouldn't want to retain him for 10 million dollars before, and that same logic applies to why I wouldn't want to offer him arbitration as well.
Vicente Padilla-13.82 Million Dollars-Type B
Decision: I'm apathetic about signing him to a 1-year deal, but I wouldn't want Padilla signed to anything longer than that. The Dodgers can't offer him arbitration because he would likely accept and be paid a ton of money.
A lot of Dodger fans aren't going to like this, especially after what he did for the team in the postseason, but re-signing Padilla isn't a good idea. Sure, a short contract would be fine, but how realistic do you think that really is? Padilla is entering his age 32 season, and like Wolf, will likely be seeking out the longest contract he can find. Hopefully, the team who signs him to that contract won't be the Dodgers.
I was going to write an analysis on why Padilla is a bad idea long term, but Eric Stephen from True Blue L.A. has already tackled that issue.
Offering Padilla arbitration isn't a good idea because I doubt he'll paid less than half of what he made last year, and that's about what he's worth. So basically, the bottom line is that if he were to agree to a one-year deal, then I wouldn't mind taking a gamble on him being motivated and on his best behavior, but you can count me out on anything longer than that.
Ronnie Belliard-1.9 Million Dollars-Type B
Decision: He's nowhere near as good as he showed for the Dodgers late in the season, and I wouldn't want to offer him a contract to return. However, his low salary makes him a solid arbitration offer target, as whichever path he chooses would be acceptable.
He posted an elite .351/.398/.636/1.034 line after coming to the Dodgers from the Nationals, but that doesn't truly represent his actual skill set, as he's a career .275/.339/.418/.757 hitter.
Defensively, he's not that good, and can't be considered a utility man. He plays second with fringe ability, but his horrid at third, and offers little improvement at first. Furthermore, he's a below average baserunner, and he's unlikely to improve his overall skills at this stage in his career.
The above reasons are why I wouldn't want to offer Belliard a contract. However, arbitration is a different animal. Given that he's unlikely to improve significantly on his 1.9 million dollar salary in 2009, having Belliard accept arbitration wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, and if he finds another team, then the Dodgers should happily accept a supplemental pick for him.
Guillermo Mota-2.35 Million Dollars-Type B
Decision: He wasn't as good as his surface statistics this year, so there's little reason to offer a contract. He would likely accept arbitration as well, so that's not an option either.
There was a stretch during the season where he was untouchable out of the bullpen, but you could argue that 2009 was a season in which his future actually got murkier despite a 3.44 ERA. His walk rate dropped, but his strikeout rate sank, and his FIP ended up around the same as the last two years at 4.43.
Given that he has a similar skill set, I see no reason to offer him another contract, as the Dodgers have tons of bullpen arms in the minors. I also see no reason Mota wouldn't accept an arbitration offer, so both of those options are out of the question.
Will Ohman-1.55 Million Dollars-Type B
Decision: Hmm...no to both a contract offer and arbitration. That was easy.
The Dodgers already declined his 2010 option, and there's no reason to offer him a contract, as he was terrible this year. I suppose they could offer Ohman arbitration if they wanted to, but he would obviously accept, so that wouldn't be a good idea.
Jim Thome-13 Million Dollars
Decision: He belongs in the league with the DH, and he knows it.
I have zero problem with Thome, but he would be essentially useless to the Dodgers, so there's no point in keeping him around.
Brad Ausmus-1.35 Million Dollars
Decision: Offer him a 1-year deal and hope he accepts.
He did everything you could want from a backup. He took Russell Martin under his wing, was positive in the clubhouse, and performed well in limited playing time.
Ausmus was lucky to perform as well as he did in 2009, and it's not likely that he'll be able to repeat it in 2010, but I wouldn't have any problem with the Dodgers signing him to another 1-year deal. He's a good fit.
Jason Schmidt-14.63 Million Dollars
Decision: Bye!
The burden has finally been lifted.
Mark Loretta-1.25 Million Dollars
Decision: Thanks for Game 2 of the NLDS, but the Dodgers should look elsewhere.
I'm trying quite hard to not say negative things about his season after his game winning hit in Game 2 of the NLDS, so i'll just say that I don't think the Dodgers should offer him a contract for next year.
I'm proud of myself. :o
Juan Castro-0.7 Million Dollars
Decision: Replacement level players are...easily replaceable.
A defensive wizard that was only on the roster because he could play shortstop. There's no reason to re-sign him when Chin Lung Hu is waiting.
Jeff Weaver-0.5 Million Dollars
Decision: Thanks for the good year, but it's still highly replaceable production in the end.
I never liked Weaver, but he was a pleasant surprise this season as a serviceable arm out of the bullpen. He gets extra appreciation for getting out of that bases loaded jam in the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers really can't afford to waste money on a swingman just because he's a veteran, especially when there are so many options like him in the minors.
Doug Mientkiewicz-0.55 Million Dollars
Decision: If the Dodgers can retain him on a minor league contract, that would be great. If not, I don't have any problem with letting him go.
He looked like a solid backup for James Loney until he ended his own season with that borderline funny dive into second base.
Eric Milton-0.7 Million Dollars
Decision: He was taken off the scrap pile and he can be thrown back in.
Milton made a pretty solid 5 starts for the Dodgers, posting an ERA of 3.80, but that was highly unlikely to continue, and he's not a necessary piece going into next year.
