The Dodgers showed some touching tenderness to three non-tender candidates on Friday morning. The club announced they have signed contract extensions with outfielder/first baseman Scott Van Slyke, infielder Charlie Culberson and right handed pitcher Chris Hatcher.
Van Slyke had an injury riddled 2016, appearing in only 52 games and garnering just 113 plate appearances. He batted only .225 and hit just one home run while posting a .606 OPS. Historically Van Slyke has always been great against left handers. He’s mashed southpaws to a career .845 OPS with 17 home runs and a .268 batting average. While Van Slyke only hit one home run in 2016, he has slugged 27 in his 5 season major league career. Van Slyke has primarily played corner outfield positions but can also play center field and spell at first base as well. He made 1.2 million dollars last season and will make 1.3 million in 2017.
Scott Van Slyke gets $1.325M on 1-year deal to avoid arbitration with Dodgers, source tells SBN.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 1, 2016
Charlie Culberson will get a new contract too. The utility infielder was originally thought of as the poor man’s Kike Hernandez. However Culberson performed very well in 2016, surpassing Kike’s horrendousness by leaps and bounds. Of course we all remember Culberson for his heroic division clinching home run against Colorado on Vin Scully’s final home game. However Culberson slashed .299/.309/.388 in 68 plate appearances. Culberson posted a .697 OPS in 34 games. He also played all over the diamond. Culberson earned 535,000 dollars in 2016, and will earn 550,000 dollars in 2017.
Chris Hatcher settles at $1.25M #dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 1, 2016
As for Chris Hatcher, he was predictably terrible in 2016. The 31-year old right hander posted a 5-4 record and a 5.53 ERA in 37 games of middle relief. He allowed a 1.5 WHIP and 8.9 hits per nine innings while giving up 8 home runs in 40 frames. While his strikeout per nine rate was good (9.4) his walk rate was an atrocious 4.6. Overall Hatcher has been a total failure as a Dodger and I really don’t understand how or why he would not only receive a contract, but a raise nonetheless. Hatcher made a little over a million dollars in 2016, and will earn 1.3 million in 2017. Injuries may have played a part in his suckfest this season, as he battled an oblique injury throughout the season. Only with the Dodgers could a player or pitcher get a raise for being awful. The Dodgers will undoubtedly continue to run Hatcher out there again in 2017. Look for him to continue to suck and more games to be blown.
Louis Coleman, another right handed middle reliever was not shown the same tenderness as he was not tendered a contract, making him a free agent.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweeted earlier today that the Dodgers have made a recent inquiry on McCutchen as well.