MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker is the place to go to see the arbitration contracts agreed upon thus far, as well as the figures exchanged between teams and players that were not able to reach agreement before today’s noon deadline to swap salary positions. Matt Swartz’s arbitration projections are available here.
As MLBTR has previously explained, 156 players officially filed for arbitration (after some eligible and tendered players had already reached agreement). Of those, 34 players have yet to reach reported agreements with their clubs. Of course, those players can still reach agreements before their hearings (which will take place between February 1st and 21st). If the case goes to a hearing, the arbitrator must choose one side’s figures, rather than settling on a midpoint.
We’ve gathered the highest-stakes arbitration situations remaining — those where the player files for at least $4.5MM — in this post, but you can find them all in the tracker (with two as-yet-unreported exceptions).
- Jake Arrieta, Cubs: $13MM versus $7.5MM (Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, via Twitter)
- Aroldis Chapman, Yankees: $13.1MM versus $9MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays: $11.8MM versus $11.35MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Neil Walker, Mets: $11.8MM versus $9.4MM (Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, via Twitter)
- J.D. Martinez, Tigers: $8MM versus $6MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Trevor Plouffe, Twins: $7.95MM versus $7MM (Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, via Twitter)
- Zach Britton, Orioles: $7.9MM versus $5.6MM (Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, via Twitter)
- Brandon Belt, Giants: $7.5MM versus $5.3MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Lucas Duda, Mets: $7.4MM versus $5.9MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Garrett Richards, Angels: $7.1MM versus $5.3MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Mike Moustakas, Royals: $7MM versus $4.2MM (Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, via Twitter)
- Nate Eovaldi, Yankees: $6.3MM versus $4.9MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Mitch Moreland, Rangers: $6MM versus $4.675MM (Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, via Twitter)
- Kevin Jepsen, Twins: $5.4MM versus $5.05MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Jason Castro, Astros: $5.25MM versus $5MM (Jon Heyman, via Twitter)
- Jeurys Familia, Mets: $4.8MM versus $3.3MM (Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, via Twitter)
- Ivan Nova, Yankees: $4.6MM versus $3.8MM (Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, via Twitter)
I really dislike how the player’s submitted number comes right after the teams name, making it look like it’s the teams number
The higher number will ALWAYS be the player
Thank You! Captain Obvious.
Wow, even though the Cubs offer more than double Arrieta’s salary from last year it still feels like a bit of a low ball..
Cubs are gonna have to pay up
Considering Keuchel got $7.25 in his first arb year, the Cubs are shooting low on a $7.5 number in Arrieta’s second year.
Look at the Cubs playing the role of cheap with Arrieta. If I were him, I’d tank the season if the Cubs win the arbitration case.
That’s the most utterly ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
Then you must be deaf. That, or so gullible you took my comment literally. Either way, you don’t seem very receptive.
Are you kiddo me Jays, .45 million difference and you couldn’t agree for the AL MVP wow our only Canadian team is turning into a joke under Shapiro
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. The Jays are haggling over roughly half a million? Really? They couldn’t just give it to him considering the type of year he had(AL MVP like you said), not to mention the fact that they want to remain in good terms with the guy when it comes time to extend him. This really is a head scratcher.
Bizarre handling of the Donaldson salary figures. There is such a miniscule difference you would think the Blue Jays would just sit down and bridge the gap. Why bruise a relationship with the reigning mvp over 450k? Arrieta will be an interesting case. They seem pretty far apart and just winning the cy young alone seems would help him immensely if it goes to a hearing. The Britton case will also be interesting with Boras as their agent and the Orioles spotless record in hearings.
It’s just posturing. They’ll settle before a hearing.
The Jays should really consider trading Donaldson now while his value is high. They could easily swjng a nice deal for a young ace + setup man/closer. Jays have former Astro 3rd baseman Matt Dominguez who is only 26 and has lots of power who can easily take over.
I don’t agree with you at all. Baring any extension, this is the last year the Jays have control over Bautista and Encarnacion. Other good players like Storen, Dickey, Cecil and Smoak will also be free agents after next season. Re-signing any of them would be very expensive and may not even be possible.
I think the Jays are in the same situation as the Orioles were in last year. They won the division the year prior (Orioles in ’14, Jays in ’15), and have a team of which many key players will likely be gone after the season. They should go all-in. Trading Donaldson would be a really bad idea.
Dam