Dodgers sign Mike Baxter to one-year deal

Outfielder Mike Baxter has avoided salary arbitration and agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The deal is worth $700,000, the source said.

Baxter, 28, was claimed off waivers last month from the New York Mets. In 155 plate appearances this year, he batted .189 with no home runs and four runs batted in.

Baxter will provide the Dodgers with depth in their outfield, which includes Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford. Baxter played both corner outfield positions with the Mets this year.

Skip Schumaker, who backed up the Dodgers’ outfielder quartet this year, signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

Baxter was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time, but was a candidate to not be tendered a contract. The Dodgers might have parted ways with him had they not been able to agree on a deal with him by Monday, which is the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players.

The Dodgers also avoided arbitration with Scott Elbert and Drew Butera, signing the players to one-year deals. Elbert will earn $575,000 next year and Butera signed for $700,000.

The Dodgers have four players who remain eligible for salary arbitration: Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, A.J. Ellis, Ronald Belisario.