Major League Baseball's arbitration deadline expired on Thursday, meaning it's a big day for front offices, arbitration-eligible players and fans who pursue such matters because it's the last day on which teams and arbitration-eligible players can file their Exchange salary figures for 2024 season.
The salaries of players with three to six years of MLB service are determined in part through arbitration. In addition, there is a select group of players with more than two years of service – called Super Twos – who also join the group.
Basically, salaries are determined through negotiations between teams and players. However, if the two sides cannot agree, the decision is referred to an independent arbitrator to decide which side “wins.” When it comes to that, there is no longer any compromise: either the player gets his number or the team gets theirs. Neither side wants to be on the losing side, meaning this process involves back-and-forth negotiations and the sides usually agree on the terms and avoid arbitration.
Here's a roundup of the most notable arbitration news from around the league.
Soto sets arbitration record
Juan Soto broke Shohei Ohtani's salary record as an arbitration-worthy player. This is reported by the New York Post The Yankees and Soto agreed to a salary of $31.5 million for 2024, which exceeds Ohtani's $30 million salary from last season. Here are the highest arbitration salaries of all time:
Soto qualified as a Super Two, meaning he is at a seniority level that allowed him to go through arbitration four times instead of the usual three. The extra year of arbitration combined with his historic performance early in his career pushed Soto's salary to record levels in 2024. It seems very unlikely that the Yankees will be able to tie Soto to a long-term contract any time before Opening Day. Instead, they'll likely have to win a free agent bidding war next offseason to keep him.
Mets and Alonso agree to $20.5 million
The Mets and franchise first baseman Pete Alonso have agreed to a $20.5 million contract for 2024 (per ESPN). That covers Alonso's final season as team boss and he will be a free agent next winter. Very few players reach the $20 million salary cap through arbitration, although Alonso ranks fourth among all players in home runs since his debut in 2019, which helped boost his salary. Alonso is a client of Scott Boras and Boras prefers to deal his top clients in free agency. It's unclear whether Alonso and the Mets will seriously discuss an extension before he hits the open market.
Brewers and Burnes settle for $15.6 million
There will be no arbitration hearing between the Brewers and Corbin Burnes this year. The two teams have agreed to a $15.6 million contract for next season (via the New York Post). They went to a $750,000 hearing last offseason and Burnes admitted afterward that it had damaged their relationship. The 2021 NL Cy Young winner will be a free agent next offseason and has been mentioned in trade rumors all winter, although Milwaukee appears inclined to keep him early in the season as the organization prepares for the prepared to defend its NL Central title.
Braves and Fried agree on $15 million
The Braves and left-hander Max Fried avoided arbitration and agreed to a $15 million salary for the 2024 season (via Robert Murray of FanSided). This is notable because it turns out to be slightly higher than expected (baseball-reference.com, for example, estimated that he would end up receiving around $14.4 million) and avoids contentious negotiations between the two sides. Fried is a free agent after next season. The Braves rotation, aside from Spencer Strider, has a number of question marks going forward. While most people believe Fried is as good as dead after the season, this deal may offer a glimmer of hope for Braves fans.
Guardians, Bieber settles for $13.125 million
While we shouldn't use the word “rebuild,” the Guardians are at least trying to reload, and Bieber is set to hit free agency after this season. The dollar number here (about Murray) is most important since all of the Guardians' potential trade partners now know exactly how much Bieber will cost this season.
White Sox, stop agreeing to $8 million
Starting pitcher Dylan Cease has been a hot name on the trading block since the start of the offseason. The White Sox are clearly facing a rebuild that may even take years. Cease is under team control through 2025, but a lengthy rebuild means he won't be there when the Sox are ready to compete again. As noted with Bieber, cost certainty makes any potential trade a little less complicated. Teams know exactly what Cease will make in 2024, and that's $8 million (per Murray).
Shane McClanahan gets two years
The 26-year-old left-hander and the Rays avoided arbitration with a two-year, $7.2 million contract (per Murray). His salary in 2025 will increase by $120,000 for each start he makes in 2024. McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery last August and is expected to miss almost all, if not all, of the 2024 season. The two-year deal covers his rehab year and also his first healthy year back on the mound. McClanahan cannot become a free agent until after the 2027 season.
Other personalities
- Gleyber Torres, Yankees: $14.2 million
- Willy Adames, Brewers: $12.25 million
- Framber Valdez, Astros: $12.1 million
- Kyle Tucker, Astros: $12 million
- Anthony Santander, Orioles: $11.7 million
- Christian Walker, Diamondbacks: $10.9 million
- Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks: $10.011 million
- Will Smith, Dodgers: $8.55 million
- Randy Arozarena, Rays: $8.1 million
- Walker Buehler, Dodgers: $8.025 million
- Jordan Romano, Blue Jays: $7.75 million
- Paul Sewald, Diamondbacks: $7.35 million
- Cedric Mullins, Orioles: $6.325 million
- AJ Minter, Braves: $6.22 million
- Clay Holmes, Yankees: $6 million
- Lane Thomas, Nationals: $5.45 million
- Mitch Keller, Pirates: $5.4425 million
- Ranger Suarez, Phillies: $5.05 million
- Luis Urías, Mariners: $5 million
- Thairo Estrada, Giants: $4.7 million
- Logan Gilbert, Mariners: $4.05 million
- Justin Steele, Cubs: $4 million
- Ryan Helsley, Cardinals: $3.8 million
- Jose Urquidy, Astros: $3.75 million
- John Means, Orioles: $3.325 million
- Dane Dunning, Rangers: $3.325 million
- Michael Kopech, White Sox: $3 million
- Tarik Skubal, Tigers: $2.65 million
- Leody Taveras, Rangers: $2.55 million
- Adbert Alzolay, Cubs: $2.11 million
No deal on time
The following players were unable to reach an agreement with their current team. As things stand, they are facing an arbitration hearing, although it is always possible that they could agree on the terms before that hearing.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
- Luis Arraez, Marlins
- Adolis Garcia, Rangers
- Alec Bohm, Phillies
- Jason Adam and Harold Ramirez, Rays
- Jonathan India, Red
- Taylor Ward, angel
- Tommy Edman, Cardinals
- Tanner Scott, Marlins
- JD Davis, Giants
- Mauricio Dubon, Astros
- Cionel Perez, Orioles