The Indians have avoided arbitration with closer Cody Allen by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $10.575MM, as Tom Withers of the Associated Press was first to report (via Twitter). Allen, a client of Meister Sports Management, had a projected arbitration salary of $10.8MM, per MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
Allen, 29, will take home a raise of more than $3MM over last season’s $7.35MM salary. The raise was well-deserved, as Allen turned in his fifth consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA out of the Cleveland bullpen. Since taking over as Cleveland’s closer in 2014, Allen has pitched to an outstanding 2.62 ERA with 12.1 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and a total of 120 saves. Allen has averaged better than 70 appearances per season and 53 games finished per year in that time, and he’s been even better in the postseason, where he owns a minuscule 0.47 ERA with a ridiculous 33-to-8 K/BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings.
This past season, Allen worked to a 2.94 ERA and averaged 12.3 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and 1.2 HR/9 with a 33.5 percent grounder rate and a fastball that averaged 94.3 mph. This will be his final trip through the arbitration process, as Allen is poised to hit the open market for the first time following the 2018 season, adding to an impressive overall crop of free agents. He’ll join Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Miller, Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Kelvin Herrera on what should be a strong market for top-end relievers.
With Allen’s case now resolved, the Indians have four remaining cases, as can be seen in MLBTR’s 2018 Arbitration Tracker. Trevor Bauer, Lonnie Chisenhall, Danny Salazar and Zach McAllister are the Indians’ remaining arb-eligibles that have yet to agree to terms on a contract for the upcoming season.
indians will take a big hit if / when he and miller leave after next year
About $5 million to much. OVERRATED clap clap clap clap clap
You win most ridiculous comment of the day.
He made what Boone Logan was paid last year, some bds like was underpaid to me.
That cleveland pen is looking empty. Think theyll sign or trade for help?
Nope. Too many starters, so someone is headed to the pen. Plus Ryan Merritt could possibly end up there, since he’s out of options.
I think with Merritt in the pen they have 7 of 8 spots spoken for already
Francona loves having a big pen.
Gross
They’ve got six starters, Kluber. Carrasco, Bauer,Clevinger(option) ,Salazar(option) and Tomlin.They’ve got Allen,Miller,Otero,Olson,Goody, and McAlister in the pen now.Replacing Shaw’s innings will be tough though.