Dodgers designate Erisbel Arruebarrena for assignment, announce Brett Anderson signing.

The fact that Brett Anderson passed his physical and signed a contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday is noteworthy. When I asked Andrew Friedman before Christmas if Anderson’s physical would delay his contract longer than Matt Kemp’s, he laughed. Friedman might have been nervous. Anderson, after all, has had enough injuries during his career to qualify for an NFL pension, from a car accident in the minors to a bulging disk in his back last season.

That said, the biggest news of the day is that Erisbel Arruebarrena has been designated for assignment.

The Dodgers could afford to cut a middle infielder with Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, Darwin Barney, Justin Turner and Arruebarrena all in the picture. If Corey Seager is able to enter the picture in 2015, one of the five would certainly have to leave. This clears the way for that to happen soon — possibly in spring training.

The Dodgers are still responsible for Arruebarrena’s contract, which runs through 2018. He will collect his full $25 million somewhere, whether it’s in the minor leagues, on another team, or in Los Angeles.

If they cannot trade Arruebarrena, the Dodgers will likely send him to Triple-A, where he can earn his way back on to the major-league roster. For now, he’s off the roster and Anderson is in.

In case you noticed, teams don’t usually cut players with four years left on their contract. But Friedman has demonstrated over the last month that he is not afraid to thwart conventional thinking to mold a roster however he wants. Brian Wilson, Matt Kemp, Dan Haren and possibly others will collect paychecks from the Dodgers next year and never play a game for them.

That won’t matter a great deal to fans if the Dodgers win a World Series. It will be the first thing they point out if the Dodgers fall short.

 

Reports: Dodgers sign relief pitcher Sergio Santos to minor-league deal.

The Dodgers have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Sergio Santos, according to multiple reports Tuesday. Santos, 31, went 0-3 with an 8.57 earned-run average in 26 appearances for Toronto in 2014, a season cut short by injuries.

Santos missed 33 games with a forearm strain in 2014 and was placed on the 60-day DL in 2013 because of a triceps strain. In 2012, his first year with the Blue Jays, he underwent surgery in his right shoulder to repair a frayed shoulder labrum.

Santos, from Hacienda Heights, prepped his freshman year at Los Altos High and then transferred to Mater Dei.

Reports: Dodgers will pay $18 million of Matt Kemp’s salary in 2015.

Matt Kemp

San Diego Padres outfielder Matt Kemp will make $21.25 million in 2015, $18 million of which will be paid by the Dodgers. (David Crane/Staff photographer)

The Dodgers and San Diego Padres are scheduled to play each other 16 times in 2015. If Andrew Friedman handed Matt Kemp an oversized check for $1 million before every game, he would still owe Kemp money at the end of the season.

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