Nine Dodger Free Agents Leave LA

Uribe, Wilson, Howell are the only Dodger free agents to re-sign this off-season

Spring Training will be here before you know it, and the Dodgers starting lineup is starting to take full-form with some key moves since the close of the 2013 season. The Dodgers had a lot of work cut out for them this off-season, with 13 players becoming free agents.

Many have left, some have stayed and only a few players are left on the market. So let's take a look at where all the free agents have ended up.

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Who Left:

The first to sign this off-season was Nick Punto. He is taking his hard-nosed play and head-first slides to Oakland on a one-year deal worth $3 million. Punto was the most utilized of the Dodgers bench players in 2013, stepping in for Hanley Ramirez as he succumbed to multiple injuries.

Skip Schumacher left to sign with the Cincinnati Reds. He was another utility man used, mainly, in center field and second base, but with a crowded outfield there was no place for Schumaker and his poor defense.

Jerry Hairston Jr. retired after 16 professional seasons and joined the Dodgers as a member of their revamped media squad. He was left off the roster in playoffs, but was a useful utility man in his two-year stint with Los Angeles.

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The Dodgers declined a club option on starting second baseman Mark Ellis, making him a free agent. The veteran infielder could have been a valuable asset for the Dodgers as a bench piece and mentor to the young Cuban, Alexander Guerrero. Ellis signed a one-year $5.25 million deal with St. Louis.

Ricky Nolasco was acquried in a trade with Miami back in July and had some success with Los Angeles. Many expected him to stay if offered a contract because he was born and raised in Los Angeles. Instead of waiting for an offer from the Dodgers he opted for a four year, $49 million contract in Minnesota.

Edinson Volquez was also acquired late in the season. He ended up making just six appearances for the Dodgers, with five starts, for a total of 28 innings. Volquez is now a Pittsburgh Pirate, and will make $5 million over the next year.

Out of the bullpen, the Dodgers lost their second-most used relief pitcher from 2013 season in Ronald Belisario. At the start of the off-season the Dodgers did not tender Belisario a contract, thus making him a free agent. He has since packed his bags to join the Chicago White Sox.

Who Stayed:

Possibly the biggest move they have made this off-season was signing a new two-year contract with Juan Uribe. With a paltry third base market the Dodgers would have had to get very creative to fill in his spot in the infield. Hopefully we get the performance Uribe delivered last year, instead of the completely useless first two years he offered.

Another big name the Dodgers were able to re-sign was Brian Wilson. It is somewhat of a surprise that Wilson stayed instead of becoming a closer for a new team, considering that his role will be the set-up man for Kenley Jansen.

J.P. Howell was an important signing in order to keep another reliable, left-handed relief pitcher in the bullpen. It is impossible to predict how a reliever's contract will play out, but he should be an important piece to the bullpen next season.

Who Is Still Available:

Since the Dodgers declined his option, Chris Capuano has not received much attention on the free agent market. In fact his name has not been linked to a team since early November, but he should find a team willing to give him a one-year deal in due time.

Michael Young was a late-season acquisition by the Dodgers. The third baseman has lost some steam over the years, but is still highly regarded as a great clubhouse presence and leader.

Carlos Marmol was once a reliable closer, and even made an All Star team in 2008. He has been in steady decline since 2011, despite making over $15 million over the past two years. If the 31-year old can find a new home it definitely will not be at the $7 million figure he has been cashing in.

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