Angels avoid arbitration with five players
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ANAHEIM -- The Angels avoided arbitration with five of their eight eligible players ahead of Friday’s deadline to exchange arbitration figures, the club announced.
Los Angeles could not reach agreements with outfielder Hunter Renfroe and infielders Luis Rengifo and Gio Urshela. Renfroe and Urshela were both acquired in trades this offseason and will be eligible to become free agents after the 2023 season. Rengifo is coming off a career year and is eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Renfroe was projected to make roughly $11 million via arbitration, while Urshela was due to earn roughly $9 million. A source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that Renfroe is asking for $11.9 million and the Angels countered with $11.25 million, and Urshela filed at $10 million while the team filed at $8.4 million.
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The Angels could be heading for arbitration hearings with those players, but there’s also nothing officially precluding them from reaching an agreement before a hearing.
The club hasn't had an arbitration hearing with a player since 2020, when Brian Goodwin won his case against the Angels. He was awarded $2.2 million that year, up from the $1.85 million Los Angeles offered. The last time before that was in '11 with ace Jered Weaver, when the Angels won the case.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielder Taylor Ward will both make $2.75 million in their first year of arbitration in 2023, while first baseman Jared Walsh will earn $2.65 million in his first year. Long reliever Jaime Barría will make $1.05 million, while right-hander Griffin Canning will earn $850,000 after he missed all of last season with a back injury.
The Angels avoided arbitration with superstar Shohei Ohtani on Oct. 1, as they signed him to a one-year deal worth $30 million. Ohtani is set to be a free agent after the 2023 season.