Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw, Ellis & Jansen File For Arbitration

While the Los Angeles Dodgers are close to being done signing free agents, they had three players file for arbitration this afternoon. Pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen along with catcher A.J. Ellis are the three players as they’ll look to get deals done for the upcoming season or beyond.

Kershaw is in his last year of arbitration while Ellis and Jansen both have three years remaining. According to J.P. Hoonstra of the LA Daily News, those three Dodgers were among the 146 players to file:

146 players filed for salary arbitration today, including #Dodgers Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and A.J. Ellis.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) January 14, 2014

The Dodgers already avoided arbitration with roster hopeful Mike Baxter after he was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets last October. Both sides will exchange figures on Friday in hopes of avoiding getting a deal done quickly. If no deal is reached, the two sides will meet in an arbitration hearing from February 1-20 in hopes of locking down a one-year or long-term deal.

MLB Trade Rumors took a look at projected arbitration figures and Kershaw was projected to get $18.2 million, Jansen $4.8 million and Ellis $3.2 million for next season. However, there’s also the chance the Dodgers reach a long-term deal with the 25-year-old left-handed ace as contract talks have remained quiet all off-season.

Last year, the Dodgers had just two players Ellis and former Dodger Ronald Belisario file for arbitration, but deals were work out before heading into a hearing. Hopefully the Dodgers and all three players can agree to a figure before a hearing and a long-term extension can be reached with Kershaw before he reaches free agency.

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