Turner, Dodgers seal $64M deal
Salaries increasing, but at a slower rate; ex-’Topes manager joins Marlins
LOS ANGELES — Third baseman Justin Turner and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their $64 million, four-year contract.
Turner gets a $4 million signing bonus, payable Dec. 31, under the agreement completed Friday, and salaries of $12 million next year, $11 million in 2018, $18 million in 2019 and $19 million in 2020. He would get a $1 million assignment bonus each time he is traded.
Los Angeles also has a pending $80 million, five-year agreement with closer Kenley Jansen. The deals raise the Dodgers’ projected luxury tax payroll to $230 million next year, in line for a tax of about $19 million.
Turner, 32, hit .275 with 27 homers and 90 RBIs this year. He failed to accept the Dodgers’ $17.2 million qualifying offer.
SALARY: The rise in Major League Baseball’s average salary slowed this year to just under $14,000. This season’s final average was $3,966,020, the Major League Baseball Players Association said Friday in its annual report, up just 0.35 percent from last year’s $3,952,252. That is the lowest rate of increase since a 2.5 percent drop in 2004.
The commissioner’s office has the Aug. 31 average at $3,825,967, down from $3,835,498 in 2015. The union includes a pro-rated share of option buyouts that may be earned if the option is declined, while MLB does not take those into account in its average.
BRAVES: Outfielder Ender Inciarte has avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a $30,525,000, five-year contract. He earned his first NL Gold Glove this season.
TIGERS: Catcher Alex Avila is returning on a $2 million, oneyear contract. He says his family, including Tigers general manager Al Avila, will have something other than Christmas to celebrate at his home in Florida.
Detroit drafted Avila in 2008. He hit .242 with 66 homers and 282 RBIs with the team from 200915. He hit .213 with seven homers and 11 RBIs in 57 games this year with the Chicago White Sox.
ANGELS: Outfielder Ben Revere has agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract.
RANGERS: Despite three surgeries on his left knee in a span of 10 months, Texas remains interested in signing free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton.
MARLINS: Former Albuquerque Isotopes (2003, 2005-2008) manager Dean Treanor was named Miami’s bullpen coach earlier this month. His addition means that two former Albuquerque managers are on Don Mattingly’s Miami staff. Tim Wallach (2009-10 with the Isotopes) remains bench coach.