Dodgers, All-Star Trea Turner avoid arbitration

The Dodgers have avoided arbitration with star shortstop Trea Turner, settling on a $21M salary, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. That marks the highest arbitration settlement of any player in this year’s class so far.

That’s not to say it’s an especially surprising figure. Turner always looked likely to land one of the top numbers of any arb-eligible player. Not only is he one of the sport’s best players, he’s headed into his fourth year of arbitration after qualifying as a Super Two in 2018. Turner settled for $13M with the Nationals last offseason, and he’ll get an $8M bump this year.

Still, that $21M mark checks in a bit higher than anticipated. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected the star infielder at $19.8M entering the offseason. He earned the bump after putting up a .328/.375/.536 line with 28 homers and 32 steals between the Dodgers and Nats. That .328 average earned him his first career batting title.

Turner will return to shortstop after kicking over to second base in deference to Corey Seager down the stretch last year. With another typical season, he’d hit the market as perhaps MLB’s top free agent next offseason.