Dodgers: What about performance bonuses this season?

Several Los Angeles Dodgers players have performance bonuses in their contracts. Could they be impacted by a shortened season?

We still don’t know if Los Angeles Dodgers baseball will be played, responsibly because of the Covid-19 threat, frustratingly because a new financial framework between the owners and players might never be agreed upon.

But as the powers that be decide how much revenue will be split between the two sides, one thing that is unclear is how performance bonuses will be awarded over a potential shortened season.

It’s possible they are adjusted on a pro-rated basis, similar to what the players want for their base salaries—for example, a bonus triggered on starting at least 30 games over a 162-game schedule could become 13 starts over a 70-game season. Or this is an area the players can offer the owners as a concession by reducing the number of bonuses that will be triggered this season.

A recent article by the Los Angeles Times highlighted a few interesting contract perks that relate to the Dodgers that are worth sharing.

Dodgers starter Alex Wood rewarded for recording 10 outs

When the Dodgers decided to bring Alex Wood back in the offseason, they understood there were some risks with his health history. The left-hander was limited to seven starts last season in Cincinnati due to chronic injury troubles, and he didn’t pitch too well in those starts with a 5.80 ERA.

Apparently, one of the incentives in Wood’s contract with the Dodgers allows his paycheck to nearly double depending on how often he records at least 10 outs in an outing, according to the Los Angeles Times.

An incentive based on the number of outs recorded is a more achievable goal for Wood than total innings pitched, as he is currently slotted as the fifth starter in manager Dave Roberts’ rotation. Cot’s Baseball Contracts, which does a great job pulling together salary information, puts Wood’s performance bonuses at $3.5 million based on a point system with Wood earning 1 point for each game he reaches the 10-out milestone. He also could earn $2.5 million based on innings pitched, $500,000 each for 110, 120, 130, and so on. These markers would need to be adjusted over a shortened season.

Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner receive up to $3 million if traded, Kenley Jansen up to $1 million

Two clauses that I would expect will never be triggered, both Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner receive up to $3 million each if they are traded, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Turner is set to become a free agent after the 2020 season, but it’s impossible to imagine the Dodgers in a position where they would trade the heart-and-soul of their team because of his expiring contract status.

And it’s not even worth talking whether Kershaw would be traded.

According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Kershaw also qualifies for $1.5 million bonus for winning the Cy Young Award, and $500,000 for finishing second or third. Assuming end-of-year awards are given out if baseball is played this year, Kershaw could still qualify for these bonuses.

Another player who receives a bonus for being traded is closer Kenley Jansen ($1 million). If he remains with the Dodgers this season, he will also earn his 10th service year, giving him an effective no-trade clause as a veteran who played ten seasons and five with the same team.

Jimmy Nelson for making Opening Day roster and innings pitched

Pitcher Jimmy Nelson could benefit from the long break before the season starts. Although it appeared likely that he would make the active roster before the pandemic hit, with rosters expected to be expanded now, it would seem probable that Nelson is with the team to start the season, which earns him a $1 million bonus, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

Nelson also earns $500,000 each for 45 and 90 days spent on the active roster. Obviously, the Dodgers are protecting themselves against injury, which you could argue is at higher risk due to a potential compressed schedule. The performance bonus that could be adjusted is his $250,000 for pitching 90, 110, 130, 150, 170, and 190 innings.

A.J. Pollock’s opt-out clause

After signing a four-year, $55 million contract last offseason, A.J. Pollock might have hit the jackpot just before the cash machines turned off. A changing economic landscape will make it harder for players like Pollock to receive long-term, big money deals over the next few offseasons, which is why a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out after the 2021 season is probably unlikely to be exercised.

However, it is worth noting he becomes eligible for an opt-out based on recording 1,000 plate appearances in 2020-21, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Obviously, it will be difficult for him to do so with a shortened 2020 season, so that clause would need to be adjusted or forfeited.

Joe Kelly for number of games finished

Joe Kelly has performance bonuses based on the number of games finished. He receives $250,000 each for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and $500,000 for 60 games finished, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Again, these numbers would need to be adjusted based on a new schedule, or forfeited.

It will be interesting to see how baseball sorts out performance bonuses over a shortened season, another dip in the revenue pool for the players or owners to potentially capitalize.