Dodgers avoid arbitration with Chad Billingsley and Matt Kemp

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Dodgers avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Chad Billingsley today, signing him to a one-year deal for 2010 worth $3.85 million, according to baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Arbitration-eligible for the first time, the 25-year-old right-hander received a significant raise from the $475,000 salary he drew last season.

The Dodgers also agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Matt Kemp that bought out the 25-year-old center fielder’s first two arbitration years. Terms of Kemp’s deal, which is pending a physical, are unknown.

Billingsley and Kemp are represented by former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart.

Billingsley was 9-3 with a 2.72 earned-run average through his first 14 starts of the 2009 season. But he ended the year on a 3-8 skid and was limited to one relief appearance in the postseason.

Kemp batted .297 with 26 home runs and 101 runs batted in last season. He won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

-- Dylan Hernandez