This year’s Super Two cutoff has been placed at two years and 128 days (2.128) of MLB service time, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. That is a slight increase over last year, which landed at 2.116.
During last winter’s lockout and subsequent collective bargaining negotiations, the MLBPA proposed changes to the Super Two system but eventually dropped those by the time the final agreement was reached. That means the Super Two system is the same as it has been in previous seasons.
As a refresher, each player gets one day of service time for each day of the season spent on the active roster or injured list. 172 days counts as a “year,” even though a normal MLB season is 187 days long. That means a player can spend a small amount of time in the minors and still earn a full year of service time.
Each player with between three and six years of MLB service time is eligible for the arbitration process, should he and his team fail to reach an agreement on a salary. Additionally, 22% of the players with between two and three years of MLB service also qualify, with such players being labeled as “Super Two” players. Any player in that window who also spent at least 86 days of the preceding season on the active roster or injured list will be eligible for four passes through the arbitration system instead of the usual three.
Until players reach free agency upon reaching six years of MLB service time, the arbitration system is the primary method of raising their respective salaries. Prior to that, teams can keep salaries at the league minimum, meaning that qualifying for arbitration early is a significant boost for a player’s earning potential. As noted in Blum’s report, the group of those now considered Super Two players includes Daulton Varsho, Randy Arozarena, Tony Gonsolin, and many more.
Here are the Super Two cutoffs of the last decade-plus:
- 2021: 2.116
- 2020: 2.125
- 2019: 2.115
- 2018: 2.134
- 2017: 2.123
- 2016: 2.131
- 2015: 2.130
- 2014: 2.133
- 2013: 2.122
- 2012: 2.140
- 2011: 2.146
- 2010: 2.122
- 2009: 2.139
For all players eligible for arbitration, if they don’t agree with their respective clubs on a salary by January 13, both parties will exchange proposed salary figures with hearings then taking place between January 30 and February 17. Both sides present their cases to an arbiter, who has to choose one figure or the other, as opposed to deciding on some kind of middle point.
Seems like it should be more cut and dry. Why the increase?
It’s based on a set percentage relative to the class which is why it varies. From MLB’s website:
“To qualify for the Super Two designation, players must rank in the top 22 percent, in terms of service time, among those who have amassed between two and three years in the Majors”
Thanks for the information!
“per cent”
aragon: Do you mean for every single penny?
If it doesnt vary the owners have too much power because they can just wait for that day.
If it varies by the average amount of service time, owners fear missing out and calling players up when they need them instead of when its cheaper.
It will be very interesting to see who makes “Super 2” status. There are going to be some surprises in the Just Made It category.
Arozarena as a super two may lead to him being traded. Not in favor of it, just that’s how the Rays work. I think there was also a lot of frustration over his baserunning, and at times the attitude when he was struggling. I love the guy, I hope he stays a long time, but I predicted months ago he will be traded. We’ll see. Hope I am wrong.
Yeah this was the big takeaway I got here. Could dramatically alter TB’s financial situation in a few seasons.
The real question, is how will Arozarena’s Super Two status affect his eligibility for the Rookie of the Year?
He is a horrible baserunner. Overrated.
Predicting a Tampa Bay player is going to be traded is a rather safe assumption.
1.01359 short of pi
So is Spencer Strider going to be a Super Two this offseason then? LOL
Pretty sure Strider signed an extension. So, no.
whooooooooooooooooosh
Arozarena needs to have a shorter leash on the base paths.
He had 154 hits this year. 64 were for extra bases. Therefore, he had had 90 singles. And he had 46 walks. So he reached first base 136 times. And he got caught stealing 12 times out of 44 times. So 9% of the time he even reached first, he negated that by being thrown out.
Randy won’t be a Ray in 2024.
My apologies, I forgot to account for HBP. So, maybe like 7-8%. I’m sure I could look at his usual spot in the order, the counts he steals on, and whether that out ended an inning. The basis of the argument remains the same. Randy shouldn’t have a green light.
How much does super two actually cost? Is the 4th year basically added at the front or at the end of the arb years?
That would make a difference because the last arb year is a lot more expensive.
So if usually a star player has arb salaries of 5, 10 and 15 mil for year 1, 2 and 3 would the super two eligible player be 5,5,10,15 or 5, 10,15, 15?
At the front. They become arbitration eligible after two years as opposed receiving a league min. salary. In your example: Min., Min., 5, 10, 17, 25., FA
5/10/15/18-20
The cutoff back towards normal. Hader’s drama and value tanked from 2019’s 2.115 record early cutoff by 1 week service time. Nearly 2 weeks from 2018’s cutoff. What a rough game changer 2019 became for Milw’s future.