Yesterday, several players agreed on the terms of a one-year contract. We are talking here about players who were eligible for arbitration, but who managed to avoid it.
The biggest contract was that of Juan Soto, who will earn $23 million this year.
As you can see by clicking on the following link, the majority of players got along with their formation. It is the custom.
At the Blue Jays, for example, 11 of the 12 players who were eligible for arbitration avoided such a process. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. notably managed to agree for 14.5 M$ US, him.
Bo Bichette didn’t sign anything. It won’t be an easy case for the Jays. Why?
Firstly, because Bichette is not one to be stepped on. Last year, the shortstop player had refused (along with Alek Manoah) the offer from the Blue Jays, even though he was not yet eligible for arbitration.
When a player is too inexperienced to referee, he has little control over his salary. But that hadn’t stopped him from trying to get a bit of power.
And this year, with more power, he is the Jays’ only holdout.
It should also be noted that he is the biggest recalcitrant in MLB in terms of gap with his formation. Why? Because of the 33 players who are now at risk of going before a referee (there is a way to agree beforehand and avoid such a process), he is one of the only ones to ask for $2.5 million more than his club’s offer.
He’s asking for $7.5 million and the Jays (who haven’t gone to arbitration since 2019) are offering him $5 million for the 2023 season.
Initial projections were for Bichette to make around six million dollars. Have the Jays offered less because they will definitely exceed the first luxury tax threshold?
Kyle Tucker (Astros) is in exactly the same position as him.
Just to put things in perspective, Bichette is in her first year of refereeing eligibility. Last year, when Vladdy was in the same position, he agreed with the Jays without going before a referee.
And the Blue Jays gave him $7.9 million. Did this influence Bichette’s demands?
Because I don’t know how many hundreds of millions of dollars the Jays can afford, I don’t know if the shortstop’s future, long-term, lies in Toronto.
It’s really early to speculate, but let’s just say the wage squabbles aren’t helping the case. It’s not too late, but let’s say he’s firm on his demands.
Elsewhere in the MLB
In all, 33 players in MLB have filed for arbitration to determine their 2023 salary. It’s a tough process where teams destroy the player and the player sings their praises.
And the referee will not cut the pear in half. He either agrees with the player or the club. Bichette, for example, will not be able to win $6.25 million if he goes before a referee.
11 teams (Athletics, Cubs, Giants, Guardians, Padres, Rangers, Red Sox, Reds, Rockies, Tigers and White Sox) will definitely not go to arbitration after reaching an agreement with everyone. You can have many details by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Rays, a budget team, have seven players who did not agree with the club. They also have the smallest spread of 33, with Colin Poche asking for $125,000 more than the Rays’ offer.
The Mariners and Angels, if we forget the Rays, have the most players with three each. And the Mariners have the most lucrative case yet to be solved.
Teoscar Hernandez, the former Blue Jays, is asking for $16 million. The club is offering $14 million. We are talking about a difference of two million dollars for someone who is one year away from becoming a free agent.
Note that Erik Swanson agreed for $1.25 million.
Note also that the case of Max Fried is curious. The excellent pitcher of the Braves, who won in arbitration last year (for a difference of $250,000), is back in arbitration this year. He asks for $15 million while the Braves offer him $13.5 million.
As we can therefore see, it is not always easy to get along with your club when the terms are high. Juan Soto notably did it.
But yesterday, eight other players agreed to a contract worth more than $10 million. Here they are.
Finally, note that we are not talking about exactly the same kind of contract, but that yesterday, Chris Paddack (who is recovering from a Tommy John in Minnesota) agreed on the terms of a three-year contract assessed to $12.5 million in total.
The first two seasons are years of arbitration and the third is a year of autonomy. He will receive $2.5 million in 2023 and 2024 as well as $7.5 million in 2025.
