Bronson Arroyo has not been thrilled over the lack of attention he is receiving on the free agent market. The right-hander is considered to be the best available starter on the market after players like Matt Garza and Masahiro Tanaka were taken off the market. With just a few days remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training facilities, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain the last option for Arroyo.
FOX Sports reports that Dodgers and Arroyo are in the middle of contract negotiations. Contract demands have been the hold up for Arroyo throughout the entire free agency process. The pitcher is looking for a three-year contract with a team and most are only willing to give the 37-year-old a two-year deal at most. The former Cincinnati Reds starter insists he is not trying to break the bank with any team, so he remains confused as to why negotiations continue to stall.
"I get [Clayton] Kershaw," Arroyo said, via ESPN.com. "I get why he got all that money. But then you've got guys like Dice-K [Matsuzaka], who came over here and was good for the first couple years but then didn't pan out. And when he doesn't pan out, they all just forget and go on to the next guy who's not proven, and pay him. Meanwhile, they forget about guys like me, who have done the job for the last eight or 10 years, and treat them like they've never done anything in this game. That's hard, man."
The Dodgers have been looking for one more veteran arm to finish out their starting rotation. The team was in talks to get Tanaka, but after missing out on the Japanese starter, they have been slow to explore other options. Now, it appears Arroyo might be the best target as spring training approaches.
Arroyo is certainly a solid option for the team. Arroyo has put up an ERA below 4.00 for the past four of five seasons. He has never landed on the disabled list during his time as a professional and started more games than anyone else since 2005. If Dodgers agree to the extra year on the contract, they would not owe the Reds anything since the team did not make a qualifying offer on Arroyo.
The Dodgers are not going to fold to demands if they do not feel it is necessary. Arroyo will likely be the one pressured into lowering his demands if he wants to be on a roster before the season begins.
