While Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May were all out nursing various injuries and Trevor Bauer got himself suspended, the Los Angeles Dodgers knew they had to rely on left-hander Julio Urias to lead the rotation.
That wasn’t a bad thing after all.
Urias has shown year after year that he belongs in MLB’s elite when it comes to starting pitchers.
This past season, he finished with a cool 2.16 ERA in 175 innings, providing some much-needed consistency, reliability, and excellence.
The 26-year-old is entering the last season of arbitration eligibility in 2023.
He settled on a salary for the upcoming campaign today, and did very well for himself.
“Source: Dodgers, Julio Urías settle at $14.25 million to avoid arbitration. Urías is a free agent after this year. On it: @BNightengale,” Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya tweeted.
Source: Dodgers, Julio Urías settle at $14.25 million to avoid arbitration. Urías is a free agent after this year. On it: @BNightengale.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 13, 2023
Urias made $3.6 million in his first season of arbitration eligibility in 2021, and the number went up to $8 million in 2022.
Going from $8 million to $14.25 million is actually a sizable increase in salary.
He will hit free agency after the World Series ends.
As a pitcher with a career 2.82 ERA and almost as many strikeouts (593) as innings pitched (599.2), he will get a nice, long contract.
Remember he will hit the market at 27 years old, one of the youngest hurlers in recent history with the chance of scoring a historic deal.
The Dodgers, of course, will be the favorites to retain his services, but other teams might join the bidding.
He can set himself up for at least $25 million per season with a strong 2023.
NEXT: Dodgers Announce The Trevor Bauer News