The Dodgers have continually stated to the media that they’re a team that is committed to their youth movement.  This means that they’re placing the success of the team squarely on the shoulders of their top farm prospects and younger players like Russell Martin, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to name a few.  Of course they admit they need to provide some veteran guidance which is why they have signed players like Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal and Manny Ramirez in the past years.  For a big market team with money to spend that is a pretty bold statement and means they have great confidence in their farm system.  As a fan of the Dodgers I can certainly appreciate that approach, because when the Dodgers win it isn’t because they bought it.

Russell Martin, Jonathon Broxton and Andre Ethier became eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason.  There is no doubt that all three of those players were a big part of the Dodgers success the past couple of seasons and deserve a salary increase.  The Dodgers committed to their youth movement agreed, and have settled on new salaries with Russell Martin and Jonathon Broxton.  An agreement between the Dodgers and Andre Ethier has not been made and the arbitration hearing is set for February 17th.

Russell Martin agreed to a one year contract with the Dodgers worth $3.9MM, a record for a first-year arbitration catcher.  Broxton agreed to a one year contract worth $1.825MM with an additional 200K in incentives for games pitched.  So it appears as if the Dodgers are sticking to their youth movement and investing in them. So what happened to Ethier? He must have been asking for too much, right?  Ethier has asked the Dodgers for $3.75MM and the Dodgers would like to go only as high as $2.65MM.  I don’t understand what the Dodgers are thinking. Why squabble over a difference of $1.1MM with one of your best youth players?  I have seen Ethier get better each and every year, and last years numbers don’t lie.  Ethier hit .305 with 38 doubles, 20 homers and 77 RBI, that’s a good year by any measure.  If they go to arbitration with Ethier and win, I guarantee he’ll remember that when it’s time to sign a new contract.  You have the money Dodgers, please don’t be greedy this time!