News
2/17/2002 4:50 pm ET
Dodgers plan to up the ante
By Ken Gurnick
MLB.com
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Dodgers, despite a 2002 payroll headed toward $105 million, think they might not be paying some players enough.
Huh?
In what should be stunning news to Paul Lo Duca, Matt Herges and agents everywhere, new general manager Dan Evans and his assistant, Kim Ng, are revamping the organization's salary structure for players who lack the roughly three years service time needed to qualify for salary arbitration.
Those players generally are at the mercy of the club, which by Mar. 2 may renew a player's contract, unilaterally deciding the salary at any amount down to a 20 percent cut from the previous year but not below the big-league minimum of $200,000.
In recent years, the Dodgers have used the hammer on young players more rigidly than most clubs. The players don't forget.
"Compared to other teams, they've been brutal," said Herges, who with two-plus years service and a solid 2001 season out of the bullpen is waiting for contract talks to start.
The collective bargaining agreement is designed to give clubs salary leverage over younger players, but the Dodgers new management team seems willing to soften the previous approach.
"We are looking at our structure," said Ng, who now handles negotiations for the team. "When I came in, that was one of the first things I noticed. We want to be fair. That's the way we want to conduct business."
A year ago, Alex Cora had his contract renewed for $240,000. Cora hit only .217 last year, but with the added service time qualified for arbitration and agreed to a 160 percent increase to $625,000.
"I want to be consistent in everything we do," said Evans. "I want to rely on player development to build this organization. It's important to establish fairness with our players."
The most difficult upcoming negotiation figures to be Lo Duca, who received $230,000 last year and surprisingly emerged as an everyday catcher with offensive production of 25 home runs, 90 runs batted in and a .320 average.
Ng will resume negotiations with Lo Duca's representatives this week on a multi-year contract that would provide the former 25th-round draft pick with financial security while providing the club cost certainty by avoiding arbitration.
"As long as it makes sense for the club," said Ng.
Sounds good to Lo Duca.
"I'd love to get something done," said Lo Duca. "I want to be a Dodger for a long time. Whatever happens, happens."
Lo Duca said his agents presented him with a pamphlet comparing his statistics to other players of similar service time, showing where he should slot in for salary.
"They'll handle it, but I'll be listening in," he said. "I know where I should be. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens."
After only three spring workouts, Lo Duca has demonstrated that last year's success has not gone to his head. The official Sunday workout, which started at 9:30 a.m., ended around 1 p.m. Lo Duca continued on his own for another two hours.
"That's the way it's always been," he said. "I was never blessed with the best skills, I've just worked harder. It's never been a question of taking things for granted. I want this year to be even better, and there's only one way that happens -- work harder.
"Everyone asks, 'Can I do it again? Can I do better?' That's the million-dollar question. Last year, the motivation was a lot of people thought I couldn't play at this level. Now after one year, they want to know if I can do it again.
"I don't need a lot of extra motivation. My dream was to play here, and now my dream is to stay here. I had such fun last year, it was awesome. I want to have it the next 10 years."
Lo Duca said his situation is similar to that of another overlooked Dodger farmhand who was determined to prove wrong those who doubted his ability.
"I learned a lot watching Mike Piazza," said Lo Duca. "He'll go down as one of the best catchers in the game and he basically didn't even get drafted, but he worked through all of that. He showed me that if you work hard enough, you can do it."
DODGERS NOTES -- Odalis Perez, one of seven Dodgers delayed by visa woes, arrived Sunday but not in time to make the workout. He said the increase in such problems are not the result of security issues in the United States but the rash of revelations of doctored birth certificates in his native Dominican Republic. "I was born June 11 and the Braves wrote June 6, and those five days got me in trouble and it took a week" to sort it out, Perez said. But he insists he is 23. He also said he expects to be in the Dodgers rotation after being acquired from Atlanta in the Gary Sheffield trade. "I know there are too many starting pitchers here, but relieving I don't think is best for me, I think starting is best," he said. "That's what I have been most of my career. I like to pitch every five days and go deep into the game." If Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby reclaim their spots in the rotation, that would leave three spots for Japanese starters Kazuhisa Ishii and Hideo Nomo, reacquired lefthander Omar Daal, Eric Gagne and Perez, making a trade a necessity . . . Pitching coach Jim Colborn walked up to Perez and introduced himself. "I'm Jim Colborn," he said. "You any good?" Replied Perez: "I don't know. You'll have to find out." . . . Manager Jim Tracy, whose media briefings last year often sounded like sports medicine seminars, had nothing of medical significance to report after Sunday's workout. "It's the prettiest-looking report I've seen since I signed my name on the contract November 1, 2000," he said . . . Andy Ashby continued his pattern of throwing off the mound on alternating days. Kevin Brown, who had the same elbow surgery but 3 1/2 months less to rehabilitate it, is scheduled to arrive in camp Monday . . . Pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez, another visa victim, arrived in camp. Giovanni Carrara, excused for family reasons, is expected Monday.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
2/17/2002 4:50 pm ET
Dodgers plan to up the ante
By Ken Gurnick
MLB.com
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Dodgers, despite a 2002 payroll headed toward $105 million, think they might not be paying some players enough.
Huh?
In what should be stunning news to Paul Lo Duca, Matt Herges and agents everywhere, new general manager Dan Evans and his assistant, Kim Ng, are revamping the organization's salary structure for players who lack the roughly three years service time needed to qualify for salary arbitration.
Those players generally are at the mercy of the club, which by Mar. 2 may renew a player's contract, unilaterally deciding the salary at any amount down to a 20 percent cut from the previous year but not below the big-league minimum of $200,000.
In recent years, the Dodgers have used the hammer on young players more rigidly than most clubs. The players don't forget.
"Compared to other teams, they've been brutal," said Herges, who with two-plus years service and a solid 2001 season out of the bullpen is waiting for contract talks to start.
The collective bargaining agreement is designed to give clubs salary leverage over younger players, but the Dodgers new management team seems willing to soften the previous approach.
"We are looking at our structure," said Ng, who now handles negotiations for the team. "When I came in, that was one of the first things I noticed. We want to be fair. That's the way we want to conduct business."
A year ago, Alex Cora had his contract renewed for $240,000. Cora hit only .217 last year, but with the added service time qualified for arbitration and agreed to a 160 percent increase to $625,000.
"I want to be consistent in everything we do," said Evans. "I want to rely on player development to build this organization. It's important to establish fairness with our players."
The most difficult upcoming negotiation figures to be Lo Duca, who received $230,000 last year and surprisingly emerged as an everyday catcher with offensive production of 25 home runs, 90 runs batted in and a .320 average.
Ng will resume negotiations with Lo Duca's representatives this week on a multi-year contract that would provide the former 25th-round draft pick with financial security while providing the club cost certainty by avoiding arbitration.
"As long as it makes sense for the club," said Ng.
Sounds good to Lo Duca.
"I'd love to get something done," said Lo Duca. "I want to be a Dodger for a long time. Whatever happens, happens."
Lo Duca said his agents presented him with a pamphlet comparing his statistics to other players of similar service time, showing where he should slot in for salary.
"They'll handle it, but I'll be listening in," he said. "I know where I should be. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens."
After only three spring workouts, Lo Duca has demonstrated that last year's success has not gone to his head. The official Sunday workout, which started at 9:30 a.m., ended around 1 p.m. Lo Duca continued on his own for another two hours.
"That's the way it's always been," he said. "I was never blessed with the best skills, I've just worked harder. It's never been a question of taking things for granted. I want this year to be even better, and there's only one way that happens -- work harder.
"Everyone asks, 'Can I do it again? Can I do better?' That's the million-dollar question. Last year, the motivation was a lot of people thought I couldn't play at this level. Now after one year, they want to know if I can do it again.
"I don't need a lot of extra motivation. My dream was to play here, and now my dream is to stay here. I had such fun last year, it was awesome. I want to have it the next 10 years."
Lo Duca said his situation is similar to that of another overlooked Dodger farmhand who was determined to prove wrong those who doubted his ability.
"I learned a lot watching Mike Piazza," said Lo Duca. "He'll go down as one of the best catchers in the game and he basically didn't even get drafted, but he worked through all of that. He showed me that if you work hard enough, you can do it."
DODGERS NOTES -- Odalis Perez, one of seven Dodgers delayed by visa woes, arrived Sunday but not in time to make the workout. He said the increase in such problems are not the result of security issues in the United States but the rash of revelations of doctored birth certificates in his native Dominican Republic. "I was born June 11 and the Braves wrote June 6, and those five days got me in trouble and it took a week" to sort it out, Perez said. But he insists he is 23. He also said he expects to be in the Dodgers rotation after being acquired from Atlanta in the Gary Sheffield trade. "I know there are too many starting pitchers here, but relieving I don't think is best for me, I think starting is best," he said. "That's what I have been most of my career. I like to pitch every five days and go deep into the game." If Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby reclaim their spots in the rotation, that would leave three spots for Japanese starters Kazuhisa Ishii and Hideo Nomo, reacquired lefthander Omar Daal, Eric Gagne and Perez, making a trade a necessity . . . Pitching coach Jim Colborn walked up to Perez and introduced himself. "I'm Jim Colborn," he said. "You any good?" Replied Perez: "I don't know. You'll have to find out." . . . Manager Jim Tracy, whose media briefings last year often sounded like sports medicine seminars, had nothing of medical significance to report after Sunday's workout. "It's the prettiest-looking report I've seen since I signed my name on the contract November 1, 2000," he said . . . Andy Ashby continued his pattern of throwing off the mound on alternating days. Kevin Brown, who had the same elbow surgery but 3 1/2 months less to rehabilitate it, is scheduled to arrive in camp Monday . . . Pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez, another visa victim, arrived in camp. Giovanni Carrara, excused for family reasons, is expected Monday.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
