Donaldson, Bryant land record contracts
Third basemen Josh Donaldson and Kris Bryant set records Friday when they were among 145 players who agreed to one-year contracts rather than swap proposed salaries in arbitration with their teams.
Donaldson and Toronto agreed at $23 million, the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player. The 32-year-old, a threetime All-Star, topped the $21,625,000, one-year deal covering 2018 agreed to last May by outfielder Bryce Harper and Washington.
Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP, got a $6-million raise after rebounding from an injury-slowed 2016 to hit .270 last season with 33 homers and 78 RBIs in 113 games. The sure-handed infielder sat out from April 14 through May 25 with a calf injury, which also hampered him during spring training.
Bryant settled with the Chicago Cubs at $10.85 million, the most for a player eligible for arbitration for the first time. The previous mark was held by Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, who was awarded $1 million by a three-person panel in 2008.
Bryant hit .295 with 29 home runs and 73 RBIs last year, when he made $1.05 million.
Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado, like Donaldson eligible for free agency after this season, agreed at $16 million. Houston pitcher Dallas Keuchel agreed to a $13.2-million deal.
Other notable deals that were made Friday to avoid arbitration:
National League batting champion Charlie Blackmon and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a $14million, one-year contract . ... The Kansas City Royals agreed with reliever Kelvin Herrera and starter Nate Karns on one-year contracts. ... Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. are among nine Boston Red Sox players who have reached deals on oneyear contracts . ... The Yankees reached one-year contracts with their remaining six players eligible for arbitration . ... Second baseman Joe Panik reached agreement on a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants . ... The Cleveland Indians agreed to one-year deals with starter Danny Salazar and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall.