MLB Arbitration: Highlights from Friday’s filing deadline
By Manny Gómez
Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rockies were unable to come to an agreement before Friday’s deadline. Given that this will be Arenado’s final arbitration year and that he had yet another phenomenal season, the expectation is that Arenado will break an MLB arbitration record this season.
There is a strong sense that Nolan Arenado will not go to an arbitration trial with the Colorado Rockies, league sources tell ESPN. Arenado requested $30 million. The Rockies offered $24 million. Wherever he does settle -- and it's very likely -- it'll be a single-season record.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 11, 2019
The arbitration record is currently held by Josh Donaldson, who received $23M by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018.
Trevor Bauer and the Cleveland Indians failed to agree on to come to terms yet again. Last season, Bauer had one of the more memorable arbitration situations. After an arbiter decided to grant Bauer more than what he asked the Indians for, Bauer kicked off a campaign called “69 Days of Giving” where he gave away a portion of the difference between what he asked for and what the arbiter granted him.
Bauer exceeded expectations in 2018, emerging as one of baseball’s top pitchers. In 27 starts Bauer put together an ERA of 2.21 and a 2.44 FIP.
The New York Yankees and Luis Severino were also unable to come to terms before Friday’s deadline. Last season, despite struggling at the end, Severino established himself as a big-league ace. This being his first go around in the MLB arbitration process, Sevy won’t see the type of money Arenado and Bauer are expected to get, but he will most certainly make his first million as a big-leaguer.
Here are some other players who weren’t able to sign with their teams that you should know about: