Corey Seager, Julio Urias avoid arbitration with Dodgers
By John Buhler
Corey Seager and Julio Urias were able to avoid arbitration with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A pair of Los Angeles Dodgers stars in shortstop Corey Seager and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias are not going to arbitration, as they signed one-year deals ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET deadline on Friday.
Seager signed a one-year deal worth $13.75 million, while Urias was able to sign his one-year deal worth $3.6 million. Both players played key parts in the Dodgers winning their first World Series championship since 1988 last season. Outfielder Cody Bellinger was able to avoid arbitration earlier in the day as well, as his one-year deal was worth a whopping $16.1 million.
#Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager signs a $13.75M contract, as @JonHeyman reported, leaving #Astros Carlos Correa as the lone one in the fabulous free agent class of shortstops headed to salary arbitration one last time. The shortstop FA class: Lindor, Baez, Story, Seager, Correa
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 15, 2021
Julio Urias, Dodgers agree: $3.6M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 15, 2021
Are the Los Angeles Dodgers the favorite to repeat as World Series champions?
Repeating as World Series champions is incredibly difficult. The last franchise to pull this off was the New York Yankees, who won three World Series in a row from 1998 to 2000, winning four of five from 1996 to 2000. Though the San Francisco Giants won three of five from 2010 to 2014, they never were able to win titles in back-to-back seasons. Are the Dodgers going to be different?
Related Story. Cody Bellinger avoids arbitration with Dodgers, settles for $16.1M. light
An advantage the Dodgers have is that they only played in a 60-game season a year ago. This means the arms on the pitching staff will not be as tired. Assuming the Boys in Blue can play in front of their fans, it might energize them to win it all for a second year in a row. Though you may want to pick the field when it comes to a World Series winner, the Dodgers are clearly the favorite.
With Bellinger, Seager and Urias locked in, look for the Dodgers to reign supreme in the NL West.