NEW YORK – Juan Soto and the New York Yankees agreed Thursday to a $31 million, one-year contract that broke Shohei Ohtani’s record for an arbitration-eligible player.
Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. filed for $19.9 million, the high among 23 players who exchanged figures with their teams among 194 eligible for arbitration at the start of the day.
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Among the 171 others who agreed to deals were New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso ($20.5 million), Milwaukee right-hander Corbin Burnes ($15,637,500), Atlanta left-hander Max Fried ($15 million), Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres ($14.2 million), Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber ($13,125,000), Milwaukee shortstop Willy Adames ($12.25 million), Houston left-hander Framber Valdez ($12.1 million), Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker ($12 million), Baltimore outfielder Anthony Santander ($11.7 million), Arizona first baseman Christian Walker ($10.9 million) and Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen ($10,011,000).
Soto had a $23 million salary last year in his only full season with San Diego and can become a free agent after this season, when he will be 26.
Soto hit .275 with 35 homers, 109 RBIs and a .930 OPS last year with the Padres, who obtained him from Washington on Aug. 2, 2022, after he turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from the Nationals. Soto was acquired by the Yankees from the Padres last month.
Ohtani played last season under a $30 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, a deal agreed to in October 2022. He became a free agent after last year’s World Series and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto offered Guerrero a raise from $14.5 million to $18.05 million. The three-time All-Star hit .264 with 26 homers and 94 RBIs, and is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season.
Adolis García, a postseason star with Texas, had the largest gap at $1.9 million. The outfielder asked for a raise to $6.9 million from $747,600, and the World Series champion Rangers offered $5 million.
Two-time batting champion Luis Arraez asked Miami for a raise to $12 million from $6.1 million after winning his hearing last year, and the Marlins offered the second baseman $10.6 million.
Right-hander Casey Mize and Detroit had the smallest gap at $25,000. The pitcher asked for a raise to $840,000 from $734,200 and the Tigers offered $815,000.
Baltimore entered with the most eligible players at 13 and swapped with five: outfielder Austin Hays ($6.35 million vs. $5.8 million) along with first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn ($3.8 million vs. $3.2 million), right-hander Jacob Webb ($1 million vs. $925,000) and left-handers Danny Coulombe ($2.4 million vs. $2.2 million) and Cionel Pérez ($1.4 million vs. $1.1 million).
Tampa Bay outfielder Harold Ramírez and right-hander Jason Adam are headed toward hearings after both won their cases against the Rays last winter. Ramírez asked for an increase to $4.3 million from $2.2 million, and was offered $3.8 million; Adam requested a raise from $1,775,000 to $3.25 million, and was offered $2.7 million.
Players without agreements will be scheduled for hearings before three-person panels from Jan. 29 through Feb. 16 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In the hours after the swap, reliever Devin Williams and Milwaukee agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract, a deal with a team option that could be worth $18.5 million for two seasons plus award bonuses.
Teams have won the majority of decisions for four straight years, going 13-6 in 2023. They lead players 347-257 since arbitration started in 1974.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB