Dodgers Strike Secret Deals with Anthony Banda, Alex Call, and Brock Stewart—What’s Behind the Arbitration Avoidance?

The Dodgers have averted what could’ve been a tense arbitration showdown this year, settling quietly and smartly before the deadline rolled around. Outfielder Alex Call agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.6 million, while pitchers Anthony Banda and Brock Stewart inked deals for $1.625 million and $1.3 million, respectively. These agreements, confirmed by insiders close to the matter, mean the team dodges the courtroom drama and moves forward with a clear roster plan. Call, who arrived midseason from the Nationals, made solid contributions at the plate, hitting .267 and showing promise for a larger role next season, especially as Tommy Edman recovers from surgery. Banda continues to prove his reliability in middle relief, boasting a career-best innings pitched and maintaining a stingy .197 batting average against. Stewart’s season was cut short due to shoulder surgery, so his contract comes with some uncertainty heading into 2026. The Dodgers haven’t faced arbitration hearings since 2020, and this latest wave of agreements underscores management’s preference for keeping things smooth off the field. It’s a savvy move, setting the stage for the team’s aspirations next year without the distraction of legal wrangling. LEARN MORE

The Dodgers won’t be heading to an arbitration hearing after all.

Outfielder Alex Call (one-year, $1.6 million) and relief pitchers Anthony Banda (one-year, $1.625 million) and Brock Stewart (one-year, $1.3 million) each avoided arbitration, coming to an agreement with the Dodgers before Thursday’s MLB arbitration deadline, people familiar with the situation but unauthorized to speak publicly confirmed to The Times.

Call, the 31-year-old contact-first hitter that joined the team from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline, hit .267 with five home runs and 31 RBIs during the 2025 season across 110 games, recording a career-high 1.5 wins-above-replacement.

After arriving in Los Angeles, Call played a reserve role behind Andy Pages and Kiké Hernández, appearing in 38 regular-season games as a Dodger. The former third-round pick is set for an increased role in 2026, with utilityman Tommy Edman recovering from ankle surgery.

Banda, 32, is coming off his second season with the Dodgers — continuing to appear in a middle-relief role with relative success. The southpaw appeared in a career-high 75 games in 2025, recording a 3.18 earned-run average, 61 strikeouts and 34 walks. The two-time MLB champion also had a career-low .197 batting average against last season.

The 34-year-old Stewart, who began his career with the Dodgers before turning into a middle reliever for the Minnesota Twins from 2023-25, was expected to play a role post-trade deadline, but made just four appearances with the Dodgers before undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in September.

Stewart is expected to miss at least part of the 2026 season.

The Dodgers last went to an arbitration hearing in 2020, when the team headed into court with outfielder Joc Pederson and relief pitcher Pedro Baez. Since then, the team has mostly avoided arbitration dramatics.

Last year, after not being able to come to terms with relief pitcher Alex Vesia by the deadline, the southpaw and the team came to an agreement a few weeks later, avoiding a hearing altogether.

That contract included a 2026 club option for Vesia, which the Dodgers picked up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.