Today was the deadline for teams and players eligible for arbitration to exchange salary figures for the 2024 season ahead of possible arbitration hearings. And, as usual, the vast majority of eligible players worked out deals for 2024 (and, in some cases, beyond) before the deadline this afternoon. While these agreements are all listed in MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker, unfinished business remains around the league. 22 players have not yet settled on a salary for the 2024 and are therefore at risk of having their salaries determined by an arbiter. That number is down considerably from last season, when 33 players exchanged figures. Of note, this list does not include Brewers right-hander Devin Williams. While the sides exchanged figures earlier this evening, they managed to avoid arbitration after the deadline had passed.
This year, arbitration hearings will begin on January 29th and run through February 16th, two days after pitchers and catchers are due to report for Spring Training. While there’s nothing stopping teams and players from settling to avoid arbitration between now and their hearing, the majority of clubs employ a “file and trial” approach to arbitration hearings, stopping negotiations prior to the formal exchange of figures in order to put additional pressure on players to agree to a deal early. While this approach generally puts a moratorium on discussion of one-year deals, teams are typically still willing to discuss multi-year pacts beyond today’s deadline.
Below are the 22 players who have yet to reach an agreement regarding their 2024 salaries, as well as the players’ requested salaries and the counteroffers issued by clubs. The league tends to pay close attention to arbitration salaries because outliers can serve as precedent going forward, raising the bar both for individual players and players as a whole in the future. That reality incentivizes teams to strictly stick to a “file and trial” approach in arbitration and risk a tense hearing between club and player rather than bridge even fairly minimal gaps between club and player salary figures.
[RELATED: Arbitration projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz]
14 of the league’s 30 clubs have at least one case that has yet to be settled. The Orioles have the most cases that have yet to be settled, with five players on track for a hearing against the club. That being said, it’s worth noting that Baltimore has a massive, 17-player class of arbitration-eligible players, so it’s hardly a surprise that they wound up exchanging figures with an elevated number of players. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. submitted the highest salary figure among all players headed for a hearing at $19.9MM, while the Rangers and outfielder Adolis Garcia narrowly top Guerrero and the Blue Jays for the largest gap between figures, with $1.9MM separating Garcia’s request of $6.9MM from the Rangers’ $5MM counteroffer.
The total list, which will be updated as settlements are reached and the results of hearings are made available…
- Taylor Ward: $4.8MM in desired salary….Angels offered $4.3MM (via MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand)
- Jose Suarez: $1.35MM….Angels $925K (via Feinsand)
- Mauricio Dubon: $3.5MM….Astros $3MM (via Feinsand)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: $19.9MM….Blue Jays $18.05MM (via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet)
- Tommy Edman: $6.95MM….Cardinals $6.5MM (via Feinsand)
- J.D. Davis: $6.9MM….Giants $6.55MM (via Feinsand)
- Luis Arraez: $12MM….Marlins $10.6MM (via Feinsand)
- Tanner Scott: $5.7MM….Marlins $5.15MM (via Feinsand)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr.: $2.9MM….Marlins $2.625MM (via Feinsand)
- Phil Bickford: $900K….Mets $815K (via Feinsand)
- Austin Hays: $6.3MM….Orioles $5.85MM (via Feinsand)
- Ryan O’Hearn: $3.8MM….Orioles $3.2MM (via Feinsand)
- Danny Coulombe: $2.4MM….Orioles $2.2MM (via Feinsand)
- Cionel Perez: $1.4MM….Orioles $1.1MM (via Feinsand)
- Jacob Webb: $1MM….Orioles $925K (via Feinsand)
- Alec Bohm: $4MM….Phillies $3.4MM (via Feinsand)
- Adolis Garcia: $6.9MM….Rangers $5MM (via Feinsand)
- Harold Ramirez: $4.3MM….Rays $3.8MM (via Feinsand)
- Jason Adam: $3.25MM….Rays $2.7MM (via Feinsand)
- Jonathan India: $4MM….Reds $3.2MM (via The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer)
- Casey Mize: $840K….Tigers $815K (via Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic)
- Nick Gordon: $1.25MM….Twins $900K (via Feinsand)
JD Davis should take what’s offered.
Too many options in house.
Disagree. Giants should try and meet halfway or more. They’re eating $6M on the Ray trade and they’re not a small market. JD improved his defense for 2023 and was having a really good year until a June injury. Make him happy and motivate him for his final arb year.
I’m thinking he’s traded by the deadline.
Giants already have too many options for 3B 1B & DH. If Zaidi signs Chapman the options become less for Davis. Schmitt, Fitzgerald & Wisely are options & are less $$$. And if Zaidi gets a versatile veteran IF to backup SS that may also affect Davis. Sounds like Zaidi is setting up Davis for a trade.
No need for Chapman.
Easy fall back target though.
I hope Farhan is not thinking he needs a splashy signing so badly. Chapman blocks Schmitt who should be playing.
That doesn’t matter he will get what he asked it the judge will give him the giants offer. It’s not like he isn’t getting one or the other guaranteed. You seem to think he takes the giants offer or gets nothing.
That’s not how arbitration works. The non-tender deadline has already passed, so Davis is already guaranteed an MLB contract with the Giants (unless traded) for 2024. The exact amount of his upcoming salary is all that is TBD, and other in-house options have nothing to do with that.
Not true teams can withdraw there offer at anytime and make him a free agent
No they can’t
Not after the non tender deadline l
WHY DRAG IT OUT?
ALL ARE VERY CLOSE!
ORIOLES SURELY HAGGLING!!
CHEAP BILLIONAIRE OWNERS!!
I’m not saying it’s right or wrong but one thing to consider is that many of these arbitration cases are with players that are in their first or second year of eligibility. Thus, there are not savings to be made just on this one-year pact, but in those future arbitration deals as well.
It’s not right. Some of these amounts are mere peanuts to these orgs. Why sap a guys confidence like that? You don’t believe in Arraez enough to meet his#? Perennial batting title contender?! What a joke.
In some ways I agree with file and trial personally. I think there are disadvantages to negotiating with some but not others. I also think some upcoming free agents or very valued long term pieces could attempt to force a teams hand by asking for a bit more than they should knowing they will likely get it to avoid dispute. If the team refuses it creates more frustration than file and trial would (“it’s just business”).It does create bad situations going to trial with everyone tho. It’s dumb these arbitration salaries can’t go down. It sometimes leaves teams in a situation where they are paying too much for a guy who isn’t even that good. Guerrero is so young but he could end up making an absurd amount eventually for a 1-2 win player.
Yes. Looks cheap on Orioles part. That said, maybe the FO and owner are sending a message to agents that they’re not pushovers. Maybe down the road when head to head with same said agent on a bigger deal, these smaller deal experiences will come in handy.
they can go down- but that team loses them since they need to non tender the guy,
It actually happens pretty regularly. Guy gets too much in the first year or two of arbitration and the team opts to non tender them. No because the guy does not belong in the bigs, but because a 2-3 win power hitting DH is not worth 20m.
The most common place i remember the guys are normally above average DH/1b types that had a monster year early in their careers. Often the player is traded for peanuts rather than non tender.
I mean the arbitration panel should lower salaries as well as raise them. I know they can get rid of the guy.
If teams always meet the players #, they will keep asking for higher and higher salaries every year.
Baseball would become unaffordable and kill itself overnight if owners simply paid each player what they thought they were worth.
Hayes is a solid player, but only plays the corner OF, and is fighting for playing time with Mountcastle, Santander, Hjerstad, OHearn, Cowser, and soon to be Beavers and a few others in the upper minors.
The same can be said about OHearn. They are good players, but not really what the team needs, so keep their salary as low as possible so they are more attractive in trade. The team does not need to keep either of them happy.
The bullpen arm- I am a little suprised they did not just meet in the middle on Colombe- he is a high leverage guy. Perez had a lot of issue last year so is a gamble, and webb really is a minimum type guy as of now.
I have been thinking that the Astros really need a guy like O’Hearn.
A deal for Jose Urquidy and a lottery ticket type prospect really makes sense for both teams, to me.
HAYS. Spell it right. It’s on his back for you to read all season, every game. Christ.
@ubaldo
I agree with this. I don’t know why so many people misspell his name.
Because the salary they get this year helps determine what they will get next year and the following year. That’s why players fight for every dollar.
Perhaps Vladdy could trend up for a season instead of the downward spiral the last two years have been. Then I could understand not settling with the team’s offer.
downward spiral? he’s actually just been the same guy every year except 2021.
Exactly. Good but not great. Maybe that’s the guy he is. I’d love him to get back near his peak, but he’s done what he’s done, at least so far.
White Sox think cease is worth a lot based on one season so I guess vladdy should too
They need someone behind vladdy to be a real threat. In 21 they had Semien and Teo and Kirk was Raking now the best they had last year was Chapman And Dano and Kirk forgot he had a baseball bat in his hand. So they should get Solier or JD Martinez or someone. To back Vladdy up. Then you will see more. Of the 21 Vladdy and not 23
It’s too bad the jays can’t offer him less than his previous season. Guy deserves a pay cut. Not a raise. And, yes, I know how arb works and that’s not possible.
Too bad Josh Bell doesnt make Vlad’s AAV, considering theyre comparable players. The hype machine surrounding Vlad is borderline ridiculous
Silly of the reds to not pay India. Claim how important he is to the team and clubhouse and then disagree over 800k when you barely have money on the books in the future.
That’s actually one of the biggest differences listed here. India’s asking 25% more than the Reds offered. Which isn’t just 800k but grows for 2025 and 2026 too.
i was thinking the same thing, it is a % amount, and for super 2 guys, that can end up being a ton of money long term.
India is also expendable to the club and everyone knows it.
Arbitration is a big factor why they consider him expendable.
McLain’s ability and India’s complete lack of position flex are the two biggest factors why India is somewhat expendable. If he remains on the Reds, this is a hugely important year for him.
Orioles clubhouse probably not a happy one with this many players needing to go to arbitration.
Seriously, those differences are small enough to settle without further haggling.
I mostly agree, but the one thing I’ll say in the Os favor is they had something like 17 arb cases, so they settled ~70% of them. That’s an awful lot of negotiations. They had to figure out how to keep that many sets of offers in a coherent order of salaries. They didn’t want to pay Ryan O’Hearn more than his value vs. Mountcastle or Urias. Their offer to him is $125K less than what Means settled for. Is he worth more to them than Means?
Means is an odd case since he basically lost over a year due to TJS.
I agree on Ohearn- solid bench bat/platoon guy, but no way worth what he is asking on a team where they have so many other guys who could take those at bats.
O’Hearn would be a great backup to Abreu at 1B and McCormick/Alvarez in LF, starting 2-3 games per week for the Astros.
they had i think 11 guys going through the process. so they settled with about half.
lol
Dear Rangers, pay the man his money.
True but large gap ($1.9M) for Adolis Garcia.
Some of these are ridiculous like the tigers and Casey mize. It’s 25k!! Give it to him.
they may still do it. “When they exchange numbers, it creates an either or for arbitration. Either they get the player number or the team number. What likely happened is that one of the sides more or less gave in at the last minute but could not get it across the line (signed and approved) before the dealine, so you end up with exchanged numbers that are so close. This is exactly the sort of case that arbitration is trying to avoid, you are this close, someone just needs to fold and sign (or agree in the middle since it literally is pocket change even to the player at that point)
Adolis is the heartbeat of the team. It’s not the right spot for haggling.
As long as he is juicing, he is a beast!
@rocker49
Ah, the classic accuse the guy of doing steroids without any real evidence bit, super classy!
Just because the guys big doesn’t mean he’s juicing. (Insert Tatis jr as example)
All night they just check! Check! Check!! No more!! Nyet!!!
His projection is $6.6 million. Matt is rarely wrong. Rangers will lose this one…..
I don’t recall if it’s like this every offseason, but there are a lot more cases that only have a $500K disparity.
Every single year. And every single year fans wonder why. 500k in year one means several million in year 3.
Yeah, for sure. Even the smallest amounts early in the arb process compound greatly by the end of it. And, each decision sets the new bar for the next arb player with comparable statistics.
Mize is off by 35k. I mean, come on.
Yeah that one was a surprise. That seems like an easy amount to work with on either side.
Nick Gordon better get used to losing. The 900k the Twins offered was generous given his struggles last season.
anyone that was offered under 1m is a bubble mlb player to start with.
I think most fan sites and analysts were at least 50/50 the Twins would non-tender him.
Nothing against Nick Gordon. I’m actually a big fan. From all accounts, he’s not only an awesome teammate, but he’s been through absolute physical hell dealing with chronic gastritis, and he got hit with a horrible case of COVID-19 while he was already weakened. He lost like 20-30lbs in a month and actually nearly died. The new Twins FO clearly had little faith in him and they treated him a little poorly IMHO.
In 2021, Gordon saw his first MLB call ups. He basically rode the bench not playing at all on the first a couple opportunities early in the year. Injuries forced Gordon into action and his bat looked AAA caliber. No power, lots of bad contact, and the Twins absolutely didn’t trust his defense. That said, he finished the season making a strong case he might be able to hold his own, but with poor defense.
Coming into 2022, Gordon was out of options, the Twins didn’t believe in his defense, and his bat looked AAAA. There was speculation the Twins could try to trade him or DFA him. He was a black horse to make the team, to be honest. Infinite Twins injuries forced the team to play him, and Gordon responded to the regular playing time starting end of May. Twins fans breathed a sigh of relief the questionable handling by the front office didn’t see Gordon put up that kind of season elsewhere. From 5/26 on, .277/.324/.455 OPS .779 wRC+ 121 with good defense at 2B and passable everywhere else. A free swinger who takes few walks, but doesn’t strikeout at a terrible clip, Gordon was able to put back on some weight he lost and it showed in exit velocities and unexpected pop. Plus, he was a fan favorite, a great clubhouse guy and a fun player to watch and be around.
2023 – There was a lot of hope for Gordon taking another step forward, and still reeling from a bum ankle, Polanco’s absence made Gordon the opening day 2B. His stat line through May 17th was absolutely atrocious. .176/.185/.319. wRC+ 30. He wasn’t striking out (only 11.1%) and his batted ball data suggested he was horribly unlucky with an xwOBA 80pts below expected and a SLG 150pts below expected. But before there were enough plate appearances to make sense of his performance, he fouled a pitch HARD off his shin, breaking his leg (not hairline). After 5 minutes of probable agony and talking with the trainers, he stayed in the game for the final pitch, striking out swinging, but at least he didn’t displace it. The guy really, really wants to prove himself. Unfortunately, the broken leg didn’t heal in time for him to get an opportunity to join the team on the field, but he was present in the dugout for the playoffs, acting as the #1 Twins superfan. I’ve seen comments from multiple fans asking “who that guy was” in the dugout cheering on his team mates on the field, and it was Nick Gordon.
Now, all that Nick Gordon backstory aside. He owned a wRC+ 30 in 2023 and generated negative WAR in 2 of his 3 seasons, and he was a non-tender candidate. Can’t expect that to work out to a substantial raise.
Whew—- long comment.
I can’t tell if you’re for Gordon or against him?? Obviously you’re against the money.
I like Gordon. I don’t think it’s crazy he’s going to arbitration because he doesn’t have much to lose, but I don’t think there’s much of a chance he’ll get paid.
Imagine being 25k apart on Casey Mize and not making a deal with him.
This is the one that stood out to me. You are really willing to go to arbatration over $25K. Raise ticket prices to one game by $1 and you have more than covered it.
Something is up there. Seems odd they would not just pay it.
Puzzling for sure. I guess they want to be known as a file and trial team. That’s a slippery slope and may be where their relationship with Spencer Turnbull started to sour.
Imagine being less than 5% off with a player, in some cases here the face of the franchise, and still decide to go battle them in arbitration.
Good Vibes, 100% You said it best!
The only one I agree with my O’s potentially going to arbitration with is Perez, the others really should get what they submitted based on the quality of production.
Not O’Hearn and not Webb. Both of them deserve management’s numbers.
but playing time is a real concern for them….
Ohearn- so he really is a 1b/DH only. Mountcastle is going to take one of those slots, and the other is going to Adley (on off days), Kjerstad (he was great at the end of the year and a top prospect) or whomever needs a day of rest. Long term Mayo likely ends up at 1b sooner rather than later.
To this team he is a platoon 1b player.
Hayes- Same issue, corner OF. Logjam at DH is above, but Santander is the other corner OF. Kjerstad is going to push for the other. Cowser may come back with growth (he was a top 10 prospect, and him being in the bigs last year was an agressive placement). The INF depth is likley to start to push into the OF with ORtiz, Norby, and Westburg looking for homes.
Webb- he was a super low leverage guy last year. Those roles are fill in just about every team by guys making under 1.5m, so they need to keep it low since they want him this year and next, with that amount he will cost too much next year and will need to be non tendered. I guess a 2 year deal for what he is asking would be a realistic offer to solve that issue, but still odd.
Columbre is the guy i was shocked about. he is the 3rd best reliver on this team, why not pay the man to be a real set up guy in arbitration (his ask is realistic for who he is and where he is)
Playing time I suppose could be a factor, I wouldn’t have a problem with giving O’ Hearn or Hayes what they ask for but at least meet them in the middle I say. Both produced above average numbers offensively and Hayes was also a gold glove finalist. Webb definitely is replaceable and the O’s always do a good job finding quality relief pitching but it does seem like a very small amount of money to be haggling over (for a pro athlete, its a lot of money for me lol).
Geez, poor Phil Bickford. Him and the Mets are going to haggle over… like… $75k. Steve Cohen has probably made more than that while taking a dump in the past week.
Calling the Mets cheap???
Disregard – I misunderstood the team he was on (not the Mets).
And people wonder why the Braves operate so well they either pay people early or don’t squabble over what is considered “chump change” to these clubs….jazz adolis Edman vladdy jr shouldn’t even be going through this process
Ummm you might want to look up AA history in arbitration.
Vlad jr’s arb number is really high because of his 2021 season… which is not reflective of what his value has been to the team since.
He absolutely wasn’t worth $19.9M last year so can’t fault the Jays for fighting that one. If he has a similar year in 2024 he’s a non-tender candidate in 2025.
he was a boarderline non tender candidate this year
Adolis is in his first year, so multiply the difference by 3. I would be fine giving him a bit more if he extends, but not on a 1 year deal over mere goodwill. 1.9*3 is quite something.
bigger than that, since normally your arb number will not go up by more than a certain %, so that creates a baseline,.. so more like that much this year, and potentially 160% of that number next year, and keep compounding it every year.
Yeah. That is why the 5 MM to 30 MM jump for Ohtani was the dumbest idea ever. Ohtani even left the country before the season ended in spite of that 25 MM raise.
Looks like the Marlins and Arraez have a way to go.
The Marlins & Tigers are so damn cheap. Christ Arraez was the batting champ and you can’t meet him in the middle?
You mean Jesus H. Arraez?
Maybe it’s not the team that won’t meet in the middle but the player.
Fair enough.
Orioles still counting pennies.
Orioles had a lot of negotiating to do- most of their roster is in arbitration, so they got a lot of them worked out.
MLB owners arguing with players for minuscule dollars amounts since forever causing bad blood then they wonder why players leave via free agency. It never changes
Please cite one example where a player signed away their free agency freedom and rights because the team gave them the extra 500k they were seeking as a 1st year arb guy.
Wow. Tigers bad vibing first rounder, Mize, for $25K.
Wow.
Not a good look Mr. ILLICH.
Not a good look there Mr. HARRIS.
Generosity, NOT thier middle name.
I agree, this is the most egregious one, 25K is peanuts for the Tigers…
Harris AND Illich
BOTH
just lost my confidence.
Sure, this team might contend, but that is by default, NOT because any tremendous effort on thier part, but a general consensus by owners to take advantage of baseball fan’s loyalty.
oh no. Not the saber-toothed confidence!
Ok. So they’ve got to be working on some kind of deal, right? Because they can’t be quibbling about it. This gives them time.
Several of these make no sense!
If you have identified a good player and want him on your team, why risk antagonizing him for what is, essentially, a token amount? If it’s the player making the all-or-less call, that tells you something. On the other hand, if they are open to the possibility of splitting the difference, for example, why wouldn’t you?
Like most here, I don’t get the teams’ adversarial approach. I get that it’s a business and that they have to exploit this leverage to some extent but most of the bad blood in the arbitration system seems to be caused by teams’ usage of legal representatives whose job it is to rip the player a new one for any perceived flaws the player might have.
They have no connection to the player and no incentive to pull any punches.
Luis Arraez:: Imagine having a 5 WAR season and your team is fighting you over $1.4M in pay?
Flabby Guerrero Jr. is Nowhere near worth $20 mil a year in any year !!
He is LAZY ,Flat Out Does NOT HUSTLE and is a Flailer !!
Guy’s overrated and overhyped. That’s the problem with having a father that played the game in a different era. The expectations are huge because fans think they’re getting the same player.
I mistake was comparing him to his dad, who had one heck of a career, but his 2021 season really gave me at least the impression that he could continue that trajectory. Still good but he needs another similar year to 2021 to convince everyone I think.
How do you know he is lazy? You in the workout room with him?
This goes to show how the guy making peojections failed to artificially inflate salaries. He was way over on most of these figures I have seen, especially Guerrero’s. Even if he wins, it’s less that expected. I love how Texas saved a few mil in arb.
Dubon went from the worst hitter in baseball over the first month of the season, looking like he’d never played baseball before, to Mr Super Utility. He is kind of a strange case, because he has never produced like he did this past season. Given he has 0 power and is the worst defensive CF I have ever laid my eyes on.
Mize and Tigers are $25,ooo apart? In this day in age? Really?
It’s really disappointing to say, but Vlad Jr is going to get non-tendered after this season. He’s not a bad player but he’s going to be looking at $25MM for 2025 as a league average first baseman.
So the Tigers are waiting for Casey Mize to split that $25,000 difference? Brutal.
What’s crazy is that the lawyers the Tigers are going to use in his case billable hours may even reach the 25k amount if not more.
The $25K delta on Casey Mize sure seems ‘pennywise, pound foolish’ on the Tigers’ part…..
No Confidence in the Tigers owners or F.O.
Sad.
Boo!
They talk about how great the Tigers develop pitchers because of Scherzer and Verlander.
Look at Faedo, Manning and Mize.
NONE have reached thier MLB level abilities yet. That’s like 3 1st rounders in a row.
What’s happened?
tigers… really 65k more is all he is asking and you’re not paying the man… that’s pocket change
Edman should be extended so this can be avoided. 8 million this year, then 10, 12 or whatever with escalators for AS, GG, etc. He’s too valuable to the team with his positional flexibility to let walk after ’25.
I was glad to see Helsley get a decent amount, but I feel like he should be an extension candidate, too.
Can someone please list which are the file and trial teams and which ones will instead settle before the arbitration hearing?
Orioles with 5 players look the cheapest
O’s settling with 12 players says differently. Don’t the Pads have coaching positions still to eliminate to maintain their net negative financial situation?!
Dodgers signed all 10 of their arb-eligible players. Thought I would note that as consensus here seems to be that getting to arbitration is a sign of team disfunction. For all the complaints about the Dodgers cheating and gaming the system, it seems more likely that that they are simply a well-run and harmonious organization, with players and management on the same page.
India is gonna lose, no way he gets $4M. He and Ty Stephenson came up at the same time and their production has largely been very similar and Ty just settled for $2.5M with the Reds.
Some of these ‘gaps’ in salary are ridiculously small lol…..
The Tigers went to Arbitration over $25,000 with Mize?
What the hell is that?
Jazz with the marlins and the all the orioles are just absurd. The marlins and orioles gotta stop being cheap
Did anyone notice that the most dragged through the mud organization from last year has no arbitration hearings to be heard of? Now comes the billionaires vs greedy union millionaires hearings. And the countless “just pay him” arguments. I guess MLB is sponsored by the FED and has an orchard of printing presses not being used to some people.
Tommy Edman and the Cardinals need to split the difference and get Tommy signed.
Better than that—- The Cards need to sign Edman to an extended contract!!! He’s the spark plug of the team on defense and is no slouch on offense and base running. He’s a former Gold Glove at his natural position at second base and would be again if they’d play him there consistently. On top of that—- he’s the most solid utility man in the game today.
It amazes me that a guy like Danny Coulombe is still in arbitration. Debuted in 2014, pitched 47.2 innings in 2016, didn’t become arb. eligible until 2022, and will be a free agent in 2025. He is now 34 years old. That is a broken system.