GUERRERO TOPS ARBITRATION LIST
Toronto star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. headlines 18 players scheduled for salary arbitration hearings that start today and run through Feb. 16 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Guerrero has asked for $19.9 million and been offered $18.05 million by the Blue Jays. If the case doesn’t settle, it would be the highest salary awarded in arbitration win or lose, topping the $14 million Seattle outfielder Teoscar Hernández received after he lost his hearing last year.
A total of 198 players were eligible for arbitration after the November deadline for teams to tender 2024 contracts to unsigned players on their 40man rosters, and most reached agreements on Jan. 11, when teams and players exchanged proposed salaries. The highest deal was a $31 million, one-year contract between Juan Soto and the New York Yankees, who acquired the outfielder from San Diego last month.
For players and teams unable to reach agreements, hearings will be held before three-person panels.
Baltimore left-hander Danny Coulombe avoided a hearing when he agreed Monday to a one-year contract with the Orioles guaranteeing $2.3 million.
Adolis García and Texas have the largest gap at $1.9 million, with the outfielder asking for $6.9 million and the team offering $5 million.
Right-hander Casey Mize and Detroit had the smallest gap among the 22 players who exchanged proposed salaries but then agreed to a one-year contract guaranteeing $840,000 — an $830,000 salary for this year and a $3.1 million team option for 2025 with a $10,000 buyout. The pitcher had asked for $840,000 and had been offered $815,000.
Also slated for hearings are Baltimore right-hander Jacob Webb ($1 million vs. $925,000), outfielder Austin Hays ($6.3 million vs. $5.85 million) and first baseman/ outfielder Ryan O’Hearn ($3.8 million vs. $3.2 million); Houston infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubón ($3.5 million vs. $3 million); Los Angeles Angels left-hander José Suarez ($1.35 million vs. $925,000) and outfielder Taylor Ward ($4.8 million vs $4.3 million); Minnesota infielder/ outfielder Nick Gordon ($1.25 million vs. $900,000); Tampa Bay outfielder Harold Ramírez ($4.3 million vs. $3.8 million) and right-hander Jason Adam ($3.25 million vs. $2.7 million); Cincinnati second baseman Jonathan India ($4 million vs. $3.2 million); Miami second baseman Luis Arraez ($12 million vs. $10.6 million), center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($2.9 million vs. $2,625,000) and left-hander Tanner Scott ($5.7 million vs. $5.15 million); New York Mets right-hander Phil Bickford ($900,000 vs. $815,000); Philadelphia third baseman Alec Bohm ($4 million vs. $3.4 million); and San Francisco third baseman J.D. Davis ($6.9 million vs. $6.55 million).
Mariners acquire Polanco
The Seattle Mariners acquired second baseman Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins for pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa, two minor leaguers and cash.
Polanco came back from a knee injury to hit .255 with 14 home runs and a .789 OPS in 80 games for the Twins in 2023 while playing some second base and moving to third base to accommodate Eduardo Julien. Polanco has the most home runs (112) by a switch-hitter in Twins history.
Notable
Outfielder Aaron Hicks agreed to a one-year, $740,000 contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Hicks’ salary is the major league minimum and will be offset against the $9.5 million he was guaranteed by the Yankees, who released him from a $70 million, seven-year contract that also assured a $9.5 million salary in 2025.
The 34-year-old batted .253 with eight homers and 36 RBIs, with his numbers improving once he joined the Orioles after parts of eight seasons with the Yankees.