Hiroki Kuroda
Veteran catcher Brad Ausmus retired at the end of the 2010 season. At the conclusion of the 2010 season, Rod Barajas, Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla, Jay Gibbons, Reed Johnson and Jeff Weaver all became free agents. Scott Podsednik also became a free agent, after declining his part of a mutual option, on November 4. On December 2, the Dodgers chose not to tender a contract to former All-Star, Catcher Russell Martin, making him a free agent. General Manager Ned Colletti described this decision as, "one of the toughest decisions I've had to make, maybe ever." Due to Martin's decreased production the past two seasons and his uncertain recovery from season ending surgery in 2010, the Dodgers felt he was not worth the salary increase he would have received in arbitration. They also released relief pitcher George Sherrill and outfielder Trent Oeltjen. To clear spots on their 40-man roster, the Dodgers traded infielder Chin-lung Hu to the New York Mets for minor league pitcher Michael Antonini and designated reliever Brent Leach for assignment so that he could sign with the Yokohama BayStars of the Japanese Leagues.