Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - The
Los Angeles Dodgers offered salary arbitration to outfielder Mann Ramirez, starting pitcher Derek Lowe and infielder Casey Blake on Monday.
Ramirez and Lowe are Type-A free agents, which means that the Dodgers will receive compensatory picks in the 2009 amateur draft if either player declines arbitration by the December 7 deadline and signs elsewhere.
If Blake, a Type-B free agent, declines arbitration and signs with another team, the Dodgers will receive a supplemental pick between the first two rounds.
LA originally offered Ramirez a two-year deal for $45 million with a club option for a third year worth another $15 million -- an offer that would have been the second-highest annual salary in the majors behind New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. However, general manager Ned Colletti withdrew the offer to the 12-time All-Star and MVP of the 2004 World Series on November 15.
Ramirez, who is an unrestricted free agent, just completed an eight-year, $160 million contract he signed with Boston in 2001. The Dodgers acquired the slugger from the Red Sox on July 31, and Ramirez led LA to the NL Championship Series before losing to World Series champion Philadelphia.
The often controversial Ramirez let his bat do the talking in LA, hitting .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBI in just 53 games after joining the Dodgers. He batted .299 with 20 homers and 68 RBI in 100 contests for Boston in 2008.
Lowe, in his 13th season, went 14-11 with a 3.24 earned run average last year, his fourth with the Dodgers. The right-hander also made three postseason starts last season, going 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA and 12 strikeouts to only three walks.
Lowe's salary was $10 million in 2008.
The Dodgers acquired Blake from the Cleveland Indians in July for two minor- league prospects and the 35-year-old responded by hitting .251 with 10 homers and 23 runs batted in over 58 games. Blake batted .289 with 11 homers and 58 RBI in 94 games for Cleveland prior to the trade.
The Indians picked up all that remained of his $6.1 million salary for the 2008 season.
