Arbitration recap: Deals signed, figures exchanged
Major League Baseball's arbitration deadline passed at 1 p.m. ET on Friday. While many players settled with their clubs to avoid arbitration, some big-name players exchanged proposed salaries for the 2019 season in preparation for a potential hearing, in which a panel of arbitrators decides between the two figures.
Mookie Betts made major news, as the reigning American League MVP settled with the Red Sox with a one-year, $20 million deal that broke a record for second-year arbirtation-eligible players. Betts' $9.5 million raise was briefly a record raise received via arbitration, but he was soon surpassed by NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, who saw his salary rise from $7.4 million to $17 million on Friday. Francisco Lindor also made a splash, with the Indians shortstop agreeing to a $10.55 million deal that fell just short of Kris Bryant's 2018 record for first-timers ($10.85 million).
At this point, 15 players have not reached settlements. Among them are the Rockies' Nolan Arenado, the Indians' Trevor Bauer, the Astros' Gerrit Cole and Carlos Correa, the Phillies' Aaron Nola, the Yankees' Luis Severino, and the A's Blake Treinen. Several of these headlining stars could prefer to go to trial as they hope to follow Betts' example and net significant salary raises following excellent statistical campaigns in 2018.
Many scheduled hearings never happen, as players and their teams can continue negotiating and often settle on one-year contracts prior to sitting down in front of the arbitrators. However, more and more clubs have begun opting for a "file and trial" strategy, where they treat the deadline to exchange figures as a deadline for a settlement and will stop negotiating at that point, instead heading to arbitration no matter what.
However, Arenado is likely to be among those who does reach an agreement before a hearing, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, with the third baseman having filed at $30 million and his club at $24 million. Even the lower figure would be a record for a one-year arbitration deal.
Generally, players gain arbitration eligibility after logging three years of Major League service. They then go through the process until signing a long-term deal or reaching free agency after six years of service. A select group of Super Two players, who meet certain criteria, gain eligibility after two-plus years of service and then have arbitration rights for four years instead of the usual three. Arbitration deals are not guaranteed, meaning a team could still release a player and pay a percentage of the salary owed.
As the settlements come in, MLB.com is tracking the players who avoid arbitration. All contracts are for one year unless otherwise noted. Some of these deals are based on sources or reports and have not been confirmed by the clubs.
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays
• RHP Joe Biagini: $900,000
• INF Brandon Drury: $1.3 million
• RHP Ken Giles: $6.3 million
• OF Randal Grichuk: $5 million
• OF Kevin Pillar: $5.8 million
• RHP Marcus Stroman: $7.4 million
• RHP Aaron Sanchez: $3.9 million
• 2B Devon Travis: $1.925 million More >
Remaining eligibles: Ryan Tepera (Tepera's figure: $1.8 million; TOR figure: $1.525 million, per Associated Press)
Orioles
• RHP Dylan Bundy: $2.8 million
• RHP Mychal Givens: $2.15 million
• SS Jonathan Villar: $4.825 million More >
Rays
• 3B Matt Duffy: $2.675 million
• RHP Chaz Roe: $1.275 million
• C Mike Zunino: $4.413 million More >
Remaining eligibles:Tommy Pham (Pham's figure: $4.1 million; TB figure: $3.5 million, per Associated Press)
Red Sox
• RHP Matt Barnes: $1.6 million
• RF Mookie Betts: $20 million
• SS Xander Bogaerts: $12 million
• CF Jackie Bradley Jr.: $8.55 million
• RHP Heath Hembree: $1.313 million
• INF Brock Holt: $3.575 million
• C Sandy León: $2.435 million
• LHP Eduardo Rodriguez: $4.33 million
• C Blake Swihart: $910,000
• RHP Tyler Thornburg: $1.75 million
• RHP Brandon Workman: $1.15 million
• RHP Steven Wright: $1.75 million More >
Yankees
• RHP Dellin Betances: $7.25 million
• 1B Greg Bird: $1.2 million
• SS Didi Gregorius: $11.75 million
• RHP Sonny Gray: $7.5 million
• OF Aaron Hicks: $6 million
• RHP Tommy Kahnle: $1.388 million
• LHP James Paxton: $8.575 million
• C Austin Romine: $1.8 million More >
Remaining eligibles:Luis Severino (Severino's figure: $5.25 million; NYY figure: $4.4 million, per Associated Press)
AL CENTRAL
Indians
• RHP Nick Goody: $675,000
• SS Francisco Lindor: $10.55 million
• CF Leonys Martin: $3 million
• RHP Neil Ramírez: $1 million
• RHP Danny Salazar: $4.5 million More >
Remaining eligibles: Trevor Bauer (Bauer's figure: $13 million; CLE figure: $11 million, per Associated Press)
Royals
• INF Cheslor Cuthbert: $850,000
• LHP Brian Flynn: $800,000
• RHP Jesse Hahn: $800,000
Tigers
• LHP Matthew Boyd: $2.6 million
• RHP Shane Greene: $4 million
• LHP Blaine Hardy: $1.3 million
• LHP Daniel Norris: $1.275 million
• OF Nick Castellanos: $9.95 million More >
Remaining eligibles: Michael Fulmer (Fulmer's figure: $3.4 million; DET figure: $2.8 million)
Twins
• UTIL Ehire Adrianza: $1.3 million
• CF Byron Buxton: $1.75 million
• 1B C.J. Cron: $4.8 million
• LF Max Kepler: $3.125 million
• RHP Jake Odorizzi: $9.5 million
• 3B Miguel Sanó: $2.65 million
• RHP Kyle Gibson: $8.125 million
• RHP Trevor May: $900,000
• LHP Taylor Rogers: $1.525 million
• OF Eddie Rosario: $4.19 million More >
White Sox
• OF Leury García: $1.55 million
• 1B José Abreu: $16 million
• RHP Alex Colome: $7.325 million
• LHP Carlos Rodón: $4.2 million
• 3B Yolmer Sánchez: $4.625 million More >
AL WEST
Angels
• RHP Cam Bedrosian: $1.75 million
• RHP Luis García: $1.675 million
• LHP Andrew Heaney: $3.4 million
• INF Tommy La Stella: $1.35 million
• RHP JC Ramirez: $1.9 million
• RHP Hansel Robles: $1.4 million
• LHP Tyler Skaggs: $3.7 million
• RHP Nick Tropeano: $1.075 million More >
Astros
• RHP Will Harris: $4.225 million
• OF Jake Marisnick: $2.213 million
• RHP Collin McHugh: $5.8 million
• RHP Roberto Osuna: $6.5 million
• RHP Brad Peacock: $3.11 million
• RHP Ryan Pressly: $2.9 million
• RHP Lance McCullers Jr.: $4.1 million More >
Remaining eligibles:Gerrit Cole (Cole's figure: $13.5 million; HOU figure: $11.425 million, per AP), Carlos Correa (Correa's figure: $5 million; HOU figure: $4.25 million, per AP), Chris Devenski (Devenski's figure: $1.65 million; HOU figure: $1.4 million, per AP)
Athletics
• OF Mark Canha: $2.05 million
• DH Khris Davis: $16.5 million
• LHP Sean Manaea: $3.15 million
• 2B Jurickson Profar: $3.6 million
• SS Marcus Semien: $5.9 million More >
Remaining eligibles: Blake Treinen (Treinen's figure: $6.4 million; OAK figure: $5.6 million)
Mariners
• LHP Roenis Elías: $910,000
• OF Domingo Santana: $1.95 million More >
Rangers
• CF Delino DeShields: $1.4 million
• RF Nomar Mazara: $3.3 million More >
NL EAST
Braves
• UTIL Charlie Culberson: $1.395 million
• OF Adam Duvall: $2.875 million
• RHP Mike Foltynewicz: $5.475 million
• LHP Sam Freeman: $1.575 million
• RHP Kevin Gausman: $9.35 million
• LHP Jonny Venters: $2.25 million
• RHP Arodys Vizcaíno: $4.8 million
• RHP Dan Winkler: $1.61 million More >
Marlins
• LHP Adam Conley: $1.125 million
• C J.T. Realmuto: $5.9 million
• SS Miguel Rojas: $3.155 million
• RHP Dan Straily: $5 million
• RHP José Ureña: $3.2 million More >
Mets
• RHP Jacob deGrom: $17 million
• LHP Steven Matz: $2.265 million
• RHP Noah Syndergaard: $6 million
• OF Michael Conforto: $4.025 million
• C Travis d'Arnaud: 3.515 million
• RHP Zack Wheeler: $5.975 million More >
Nationals
• RHP Joe Ross: $1 million
• LHP Sammy Solis: $850,000
• SS Trea Turner: $3.725 million
• 3B Anthony Rendon: $18.8 million More >
Remaining eligibles:Kyle Barraclough (Barraclough's figure: $2 million; WSH figure: $1.725 million, per AP), Michael A. Taylor (Taylor's figure: $3.5 million; WSH figure: $3.25 million, per AP)
Phillies
• OF Aaron Altherr: $1.35 million
• LHP José Álvarez: $1.925 million
• RHP Jerad Eickhoff: $975,000
• 3B Maikel Franco: $5.2 million
• 2B César Hernández: $7.75 million
• LHP Adam Morgan: $1.1 million
• RHP Héctor Neris: $1.8 million
• RHP Vince Velasquez: $2.249 million More >
Remaining eligibles:Aaron Nola (Nola's figure: $6.75 million; PHI figure: $4.45 million, per AP)
NL CENTRAL
Brewers
• RHP Zach Davies: $2.6 million
• RHP Junior Guerra: $2.225 million
• RHP Corey Knebel: $5.125 million
• C Erik Kratz: $1.2 million
• RHP Jimmy Nelson: $3.7 million
• UTIL Hernán Pérez: $2.5 million
• C Manny Piña: $1.6 million
• SS Tyler Saladino: $887,500
• 3B Travis Shaw: $4.675 million More >
Cardinals
• RHP Dominic Leone: $1.26 million
• LF Marcell Ozuna: $12.25 million
• LHP Chasen Shreve: $900,000
• RHP Michael Wacha: $6.35 million More >
Cubs
• 2B/SS Javier Báez: $5.2 million
• 3B Kris Bryant: $12.9 million
• RHP Carl Edwards Jr.: $1.5 million
• RHP Kyle Hendricks: $7.405 million
• LHP Mike Montgomery: $2.44 million
• SS Addison Russell: $3.4 million
• OF Kyle Schwarber: $3.39 million More >
Pirates
• OF Corey Dickerson: $8.5 million
• RHP Michael Feliz: $850,000
• RHP Keone Kela: $3.175 million More >
Reds
• C Curt Casali: $950,000
• RHP Anthony DeSclafani: $2.125 million
• 2B Scooter Gennett: $9.775 million
• RHP Michael Lorenzen: $1.95 million
• SS José Peraza: $2.775 million
• RF Yasiel Puig: $9.7 million
• RHP Tanner Roark: $10 million More >
Remaining eligibles:Alex Wood (Wood's figure: $9.65 million; CIN figure: $8.7 million, per AP)
NL WEST
D-backs
• RHP Matt Andriese: $920,000
• LHP Andrew Chafin: $1.945 million
• 3B Jake Lamb: $4.825 million
• LHP Robbie Ray: $6.05 million
• C John Ryan Murphy: $900,000
• RF Steven Souza Jr.: $4.125 million
• RHP Taijuan Walker: $5.025 million
• OF David Peralta: $7 million
• SS Nick Ahmed: $3.663 million
• RHP Archie Bradley: $1.83 million More >
Remaining eligibles: T.J. McFarland (McFarland's figure: $1.675 million; ARI figure: $1.1 million, per AP)
Dodgers
• LHP Tony Cingrani: $2.65 million
• RHP Pedro Báez: $2.1 million
• RHP Josh Fields: $2.85 million
• RHP Yimi García: $710,000
• INF/OF Kiké Hernández: $3.725 million
• OF Joc Pederson: $5 million
• SS Corey Seager: $4 million
• INF/OF Chris Taylor: $3.5 million More >
Giants
• RHP Sam Dyson: $5 million
• 2B Joe Panik: $3.8 million
• LHP Will Smith: $4.225 million More >
Padres
• OF Travis Jankowski: $1.165 million
• INF Greg Garcia: $910,000
• C Austin Hedges: $2.06 million
• RHP Bryan Mitchell: $900,000
• LHP Robbie Erlin: $1.45 million
• C Austin Hedges: $2.06 million
• RHP Kirby Yates: $3.06 million
Rockies
• LHP Tyler Anderson: $2.625 million
• RHP Chad Bettis: $3.325 million
• RHP Scott Oberg: $1.3 million
• LHP Chris Rusin: $1.688 million
• C Tony Wolters: $960,000
• RHP Jon Gray: $2.925 million
• SS Trevor Story: $5 million More >
Remaining eligibles: Nolan Arenado (Arenado's figure: $30 million; COL figure: $24 million, per AP)