Mario Alvarez was NOT arbitration-eligible …

… but he DID have an arm injury that was going to keep him out for all of 2009, and given that he was on the 40-man roster, he would have had to be on the big-league DL all year accruing big-league service time. This also clears a 40-man spot. Also, I just spoke with Ned, and he reiterated that the Dodgers are open to re-signing Saito and Berroa. If Saito ISN’T re-signed, the closer’s role could go to Broxton, Kuo, someone else in the organization or someone outside the organization. Even if Saito IS re-signed, he won’t necessarily be the closer.