Scott Elbert Files For Free Agency

We’ve already heard the Dodgers have made the qualifying offer to shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Essentially covering their butts by doing so. If Hanley doesn’t return to the Dodgers, the other club that signs him must give the Dodgers a compensatory draft pick. It’s better than getting nothing back I guess.In other free agents news, Chad Billingsley isn’t the only long time Dodger pitcher that will become a free agent this offseason.

Long lost Left handed reliever Scott Elbert, who was earlier outrighted, has filed for free agency. Elbert has been with the Dodgers since the club drafted him in the first round of the 2004 amateur draft. Elbert has always had a lot of talent, but has been unable to stay healthy over the years.

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Elbert has pitched with the Dodgers at the big level since 2008. Elbert has had a sub 2.50 ERA over his last three seasons with the Dodgers, but has had multiple elbow surgeries which have caused him to miss the entire 2013 season.

Elbert posted a 2.43 ERA and 2.72 FIP in 47 games in 2011. In 2012 he posted a 2.20 ERA and 3.80 FIP in 43 games. Then after overcoming more than one elbow reconstructive surgery, he finally returned to the Dodgers late last season.

On September 13, Elbert pitched a scoreless frame at San Francisco. That was his first MLB appearances since the 2012 season. Elbert pitched in seven games in 2014, posting a 2.08 ERA. Overall Elbert has a 4-3 record with a 3.54 ERA, and 3.87 FIP in 127 games pitched. Elbert has posted an 8.8 whiff per nine rate, and a 3.9 walk per nine rate in 96.2 innings pitched. Elbert has two career saves, and has 94 whiffs in his six MLB seasons in Los Angeles.

The 29-year old left hander is most known for giving up the heartbreaking go-ahead two-run home run to the Cardinal’s Kolten Wong in the seventh inning of game 3 of this season’s four game NLDS loss to the Cardinals. Although he did whiff two batters in the eighth inning of game 1.

Elbert was making 575,000 dollars in 2014, and was first year arbitration eligible before being outrighted, and then electing for free agency.