On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers declined to offer salary arbitration to their three Type B free agents: outfielder Scott Podsednik, right-hander Vicente Padilla and catcher Rod Barajas.
However, it is believed that the club has remained in contact with all three players.
Offering arbitration to a Type B free agent would have ensured that the club get at least some compensation -- a supplemental draft pick -- should the player decline the offer and sign as a free agent elsewhere. However if arbitration is offered and the player accepts, the team could end up having to pay the player a salary it is not comfortable with.
Padilla, who made $5.025 million last season, was 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 2010 before a neck injury ended his season after 16 starts. He was 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA after signing with the club midway through the 2009 season.
Podsednik hit .262 with a .313 slugging percentage in 39 games with the Dodgers after coming over from the Royals in a trade on July 28. His season also ended early, due to foot problems. The Dodgers had previously offered to pick up their end of a $2 million mutual option on Podsednik, 34, but he declined and opted to become a free agent.
Barajas earned $500,000 in base salary last season and was productive (.297, .578 slugging percentage) in 25 games after coming to the Dodgers from the Mets via waivers on August 22. The Dodgers decided to keep their options open with Barajas, 35, who is only a .239 career hitter.
The Dodgers faced a similar decision last season with Type A free agents Randy Wolf and Orlando Hudson, who would have brought back first-round draft picks if they'd declined arbitration and signed elsewhere as free agents. But the club felt the risk of those players accepting arbitration and then potentially using it as leverage on a longer-term extension was too great.
Ramona Shelburne is a reporter and columnist for ESPNLosAngeles.com.