MLB and MLBPA finalize list of Super Two qualifiers
The 26 players named are eligible for salary arbitration
Major League Baseball and the Players' Association have finalized a list of 26 players with less than three years of Major League service time who are eligible for salary arbitration, also known as Super Twos, a Major League Baseball source confirmed.
The group is headlined by Mets closer Jenrry Mejia, Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera, Angels pitcher Garrett Richards, Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, Astros slugger Chris Carter, A's third baseman Josh Donaldson and Yankees pitcher David Phelps.
The Super Two cutoff has significant impact on club payroll. These 26 players are now eligible to go through the arbitration process four times before reaching free agency, as opposed to the standard three. For the affected clubs, this could lead to millions of dollars in added payroll -- as well as less cost certainty -- depending on the performance of the players involved.
Only the top 22 percent of players with between two and three years of service time qualify for arbitration, provided they had at least 86 days of service time during the immediately preceding season. This year's cutoff for Super Twos was two years, 133 days of Major League service, which rose from 122 days last year and dropped from 139 after the 2012 season. Other players eligible for arbitration include those with between three and six years of Major League service.
White Sox pitchers Javy Guerra and Jose Quintana, as well as Astros infielder Marwin Gonzalez, were the final three players to qualify as Super Twos.
Royals catcher Erik Kratz (two years, 129 days) missed the cut by four days. Blue Jays pitcher Drew Hutchison, Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu and Mets catcher Anthony Recker all were just short of the cutoff, with each registering two seasons and 128 days of service time.
There are three Super Twos who are already under contract for 2015 as a result of multi-year deals they signed: Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Quintana.
The following players are also classified as Super Twos:
Collin Cowgill, OF, Angels
Anthony Bass, RHP, Astros
Alex Presley, OF, Astros
Martin Maldonado, C, Brewers
Shane Robinson, OF, Cardinals
Hector Sanchez, C, Giants
Zach Britton, LHP, Orioles
Joe Wieland, RHP, Padres
Vance Worley, RHP, Pirates
Jared Hughes, RHP, Pirates
Drew Smyly, LHP, Rays
Louis Coleman, RHP, Royals
Casey Fien, RHP, Twins
Tommy Milone, LHP, Twins