Tony Gonsolin agrees deal with Dodgers, avoiding arbitration
The only arbitration-eligible Dodger to not agree terms by the exchange deadline, Tony Gonsolin has now agreed a two-year deal with the team
The Los Angeles Dodgers offered Tony Gonsolin $3 million for next year, and he wanted more. To be fair to Gonsolin, he is worth more.
2022 was a bumper year for the right-handed fastballer. He was selected to the All-Star Game on the back of a 2.02 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in the first half of the season, and while he suffered with some arm fatigue in the back stretch, he managed to end his season at 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 130.1 innings pitched.
In the postseason, he started Game 3 of the NLDS, allowing one run on four hits, and when the dust settled, his performance qualified him for bonus money.
The Dodgers offered $3 million, but Gonsolin asked for $3.4 million. The Dodgers decided in the end to take the same multi-year contract approach that they have applied to other arbitration-eligible players and have come to terms on a two-year deal that sees Gonsolin get $6.65 million.
The deal is loaded with perks and bonuses, seeing Gonsolin get $3.25 million base salary next year, but offers him his desired $3.4 million in 2024. Additionally, he will get an escalating series of $500k bonuses by making 14, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 28 starts this season, which could see him top out by adding an extra $3 million to his salary.
After an off season of eye-popping contracts, this one is not so huge in the grand scheme of things, but what it does is secures a bedrock arm to the Dodgers starting rotation. Having watched some of the league’s marquee pitchers wind up signing with rival teams, that is something that will make the Dodgers breathe a little easier.