1:48pm: The Orioles and Tillman have also avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $10.05MM deal, tweets Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com.
12:20pm: Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports that Manny Machado also avoided arb with an $11.5MM deal (Twitter link). That checks in $300K north of his projection from Swartz.
11:11am: The Orioles and superstar closer Zach Britton have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a hefty $11.4MM salary for the 2017 season, reports Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith (on Twitter). The Scott Boras client’s salary is an exact match with the $11.4MM projection of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. Britton will be arb-eligible once more next winter before becoming a free agent after the 2018 season.
Britton, 29, is coming off one of the most dominant seasons of any reliever in history. One of the best relievers in baseball (and arguably the best), Britton led the American League in saves with 47 and posted a comically low 0.54 ERA with 9.9 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 in 67 innings of work. He also posted an outrageous 80 percent ground-ball rate that is the highest mark in Major League history of any qualified starter or reliever dating back to 2002 when the stat was first tracked.
As can be seen in MLBTR’s 2017 Arbitration Tracker, Britton was one of nine Orioles players that’s eligible for arbitration. The team has six players remaining, in the form of Kevin Gausman, Chris Tillman, Brad Brach, Jonathan Schoop, Caleb Joseph and T.J. McFarland.
Tell me you guys don’t enjoy guessing arbitration outcomes
Unless the two sides work out a long term deal, I don’t see Britton in Baltimore after this season, if they don’t trade him during the season.
A very good trade candidate–one who could reap a huge return–IF the O’s are out of contention around the trade deadline. Otherwise, they have a ridiculously great bullpen piece for the pennant race.
Yeah, I agree. If they hit a streak of bad luck and are out of it at the deadline, it’s very possible he could be traded this season. I expect they’ll at least contend for a playoff spot again, so I think he’ll stick with the team this season and then be traded in the off season. The Orioles need to recoup prospects from somewhere, and they have several other strong relievers who could theoretically close. Although his value is probably at its highest right now, I’m sure he’ll still bring back a decent amount next year this time.
Even better if Boras and co cited your model as the reason for their number
I think it’s great to see a player earning so much money before they even become a free agent. Makes you wonder how much he would make in free agency though.
similar to jansen/chapman contract, most likely
Totally. If he has a good year/s up to FA and with the way salaries are rising, you gotta think even more?
A guy has one good year and you give him 12 million dollars. That’s just ridiculous id have cut him before i paid that kind of money. The guy pitches maybe one inning a game u gotta have something wrong with you to pay that kind of big money.
Is this a serious comment?
Edgy
Perhaps why you’re not a GM.
While I agree in the sense that I wouldn’t pay a closer Chapman/Jansen money, that’s the current market, and Britton was already expected to get a big bump in salary via the arbitration process. You can’t just release him, since one of the best relievers in baseball could make a great trade candidate in the summer if the O’s aren’t contending.
One good year?
So his 1.92 ERA with 36 saves in 2015 and his 1.65 ERA with 37 saves in 2014 doesn’t qualify as good?
Doesn’t follow baseball. ONE good year?
I guess Trout only had a good year or two before he got his big deal too right?
He is arguably THE best closer. When he reaches free agency he’ll probably earn 18 million.
The best closer? Maybe, but he’s not the best reliever in baseball. That would be Andrew Miller.
He’s not the best catcher, first baseman, DH…. in baseball either. The man said he’s arguably the best closer, which is a valid statement.
Let’s not split hairs.
One good year lol, dude has pitched the last 200 games at an ERA around 1.00. So at least 4 seconds of research before you comment on any subject plz
I wonder how much (if at all) the MLBTR estimates are considered by either side? There are plenty in the industry who read here and the estimates seem to be pretty darn close for most cases. I know teams have their own internal metrics, but I also know many clubs are always looking to see what they other guys are using and deciding if their metrics could be improved.
He’ll end up on the Dodgers on or before August 1
I do some writing myself (mostly music journalism) and just wanted to compliment the phrasing of, “…posted a comically low 0.54 ERA…”
lol ONE GOOD YEAR??? It happened to be one of the best years for a reliever in mlb history.
I can’t believe this guy saying that 12 million is terrible for britton. Much better deal than jansen or chapman. Think or at least research zach britton before you comment that you would cut this guy
Andrew Miller had a better year than Britton last season. Just putting that out there. Lower FIP, lower WHIP, Miller struck out 15 batters/9 as opposed to Britton’s 10/9. Andrew Miller walked 9 batters and struck out 123. Britton walked 15 and struck out 74. Miller pitched more innings, too.
ONE GOOD YAER?!?!? give me a break.
2014: 1.65 ERA and 37 saves
2015: 1.92 ERA and 36 saves. If you don’t consider those years good, then you have a problem. Way better deal than Melancon, Jansen, and Chapman In my opinion.