"The Dodgers avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Chad Billingsley today, signing him to a one-year deal for 2010 worth $3.85 million, according to baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Arbitration-eligible for the first time, the 25-year-old right-hander received a significant raise from the $475,000 salary he drew last season.

The Dodgers also agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Matt Kemp that bought out the 25-year-old center fielder's first two arbitration years. Terms of Kemp's deal, which is pending a physical, are unknown.

Billingsley and Kemp are represented by former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart."