NEW YORK — Boston’s outfielder Jarren Duran and right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford are among a total of 29 players who have two to three years of service time and qualify for salary arbitration. Notably, Atlanta’s left-handed pitcher Angel Perdomo narrowly missed the eligibility threshold.
Seattle’s George Kirby is included in the group of so-called Super 2 players, alongside fellow right-handers Shane Baz from Tampa Bay, Kyle Bradish of Baltimore, Edward Cabrera from Miami, Ryan Feltner of Colorado, Ben Lively of Cleveland, and Andre Pallante of St. Louis. Among the left-handed pitchers are Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels, who achieved the milestone of a no-hitter against Tampa Bay during his rookie season in May 2022, and Bailey Falter from Pittsburgh. The outfield contingent features Kansas City’s MJ Melendez and Atlanta’s Jarred Kelenic, while Minnesota’s Royce Lewis rounds out the eligible shortstops.
The eligibility cutoff has been established at 2 years and 132 days of major league service, an increase from last year’s 2 years and 118 days. In past seasons, the cutoff has seen variations, including a low of 2 years and 115 days in 2019 and a high of 2 years and 146 days in 2011.
Michael Rucker, a right-hander from Washington, was the last player to exceed the cutoff; however, he opted for free agency after declining a demotion to Triple-A Rochester. Likewise, Seattle’s catcher Seby Zavala would have qualified but chose to become a free agent last month. Perdomo is recuperating from Tommy John surgery, having accrued 2 years and 131 days of service time.
Additional eligible players include Washington catcher Riley Adams, Detroit’s right-hander Beau Brieske, Seattle catcher Luis Campusano, Toronto shortstop Ernie Clement, New York Yankees’ right-hander Scott Effross, Miami catchers Nick Fortes and left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett, Pittsburgh right-hander Colin Holderman, Oakland right-hander Dany Jiménez, Detroit third baseman Andy Ibáñez, Colorado’s right-hander Justin Lawrence, Atlanta left-hander Dylan Lee, Chicago White Sox right-hander Penn Murfee, Toronto right-hander Zach Pop, and San Francisco right-hander Austin Warren.
The top 22% of players who have between two and three years of major league service and at least 86 days of service during the current season are allowed to enter arbitration, joining other players who possess three to six years of service time.
The important deadline for players and teams to propose salaries is set for January 9, with hearing dates for unresolved agreements scheduled between January 27 and February 14 in St. Petersburg, Florida. From 1974 to 1985, players were eligible for arbitration after two years of service, but this threshold was increased to three years in 1986. The Super 2 classification was established in 1991 at a rate of 17% and rose to 22% in 2013.