TL;DR - Scouting Report
Dodgers offseason arbitration news: At the filing deadline, four players, including Phillips and Kopech, agreed to deals, while Alex Vesia’s case heads toward arbitration as the team finalizes key bullpen decisions for 2025.
Start the Rally: Tweet This Now!The Los Angeles Dodgers made significant progress at the arbitration filing deadline, reaching agreements with four of their five remaining arbitration-eligible players.
However, left-hander Alex Vesia remains unsigned, setting up a potential arbitration hearing—the team’s first since 2020, when Joc Pederson lost his hearing and Pedro Báez won his.
Among those who agreed to deals were standout relievers Evan Phillips ($6.1 million), Michael Kopech ($5.2 million), Brusdar Graterol ($2.8 million), and Anthony Banda ($1 million). These contracts solidify key pieces of the Dodgers’ bullpen for the 2025 season.
Phillips and Kopech, in particular, will be central figures, with Phillips continuing his role as a dominant high-leverage arm and Kopech building on his success after a strong 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, Brusdar Graterol is not expected to return from shoulder surgery until later in 2025, while Banda will provide versatile support after a solid 2024 performance.
Alex Vesia’s case, however, remains unresolved. The Dodgers filed a counteroffer of $2.05 million against Vesia’s request for $2.35 million.
While the case appears likely to proceed to a hearing due to the Dodgers’ reported “file and trial” policy, recent history shows that the team has been open to negotiations even after the filing deadline.
For example, in 2023, the Dodgers avoided arbitration with Tony Gonsolin by agreeing to a two-year, $6.65 million deal after initially failing to reach an agreement by the deadline. This precedent suggests that a deal with Vesia could still be reached before a hearing takes place.
The team’s preference to avoid hearings aligns with their goal of maintaining positive relationships with players, as arbitration can sometimes involve contentious evaluations.
The Dodgers’ offseason began with eight arbitration-eligible players. Before the non-tender deadline, the team reached agreements with starting pitchers Dustin May ($2.135 million) and Tony Gonsolin ($5.4 million).
The Dodgers also traded Gavin Lux earlier this week to the Cincinnati Reds to alleviate an infield logjam following the acquisition of KBO star Hye-Seong Kim. In return, they acquired outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A pick (37th overall) in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Vesia, a pivotal bullpen arm during the Dodgers’ World Series run, played a crucial role in high-leverage situations. His arbitration outcome will be closely watched, as it could influence the team’s bullpen payroll and construction strategy for the season ahead.
