The 2024-25 arbitration figure exchange deadline is at January 9, at 8 PM ET. However, MLB organizations were able to come to pre-arbitration agreements to avoid this process. Several notable names did come to terms on new deals, including the AL Cy Young Award winner from 2024.
ESPN reported that Tarik Skubal avoided arbitration with the Tigers, at one-year, $10.15MM. It’s a significant jump from 2024, when Skubal made $2.65MM.
A lot has changed for Skubal, who has one year of arbitration eligibility left, since the start of 2024. The left-hander won the AL pitching triple crown and the 2024 AL Cy Young Award. He capped off 2024 with 20 strikeouts over 19 playoff innings last October.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, settled with Zac Gallen ($13.5MM) and Josh Naylor ($10.9MM). Both Gallen and Naylor are eligible for free agency after the 2024 season.
Gallen gets an increase from the $10.011MM he received in 2024. The right-hander struck out 156 over 148 frames. Gallen spent time on the IL last season and walked a career-high 54. However, Gallen remained one of the better strikeout pitchers in baseball.
Naylor, who was acquired from the Guardians last month, hit 31 home runs in 2024 for Cleveland. The new D-Backs first baseman finished second in total home runs among primary first basemen, behind only current free agent Pete Alonso. Naylor made $6.5MM last season with the Guardians.
The Mariners extended Randy Arozarena for one year at $11.3MM per reports, up from $8.1MM. It comes on the fifth anniversary of the trade that sent Arozarena from the Cardinals to the Rays. Arozarena hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases for the fourth straight season in 2024.
The 29-year-old is in his third year of arbitration eligiblity and will get one more before heading to free agency after 2026.
The Padres, meanwhile, settled with Dylan Cease ($13.75MM) and Luis Arraez ($14MM). Like Gallen and Naylor, the two are eligible for free agency after 2025.
Cease pitched exceptionally well for the Padres last season, as the 29-year-old struck out 224 over 189.1 IP and saw his BB/9 drop from 4.0 to 3.1 year-to-year. He finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2024.
Arraez, meanwhile, won his third-straight batting title, as he hit .314 last season. He made $10.6MM last season.
The 27-year-old is one of the more interesting figures in baseball, as Arraez is arguably the best contact hitter in all of baseball. However, public metrics are not favorable on his defense, as he owned a -13 Outs Above Average last season per Statcast. Arraez spent the vast majority of 2024 with the Padres either at first or as the DH.
There were trade rumors connecting Arraez to the Yankees. However, recent reports have poured cold water on that and one from USA Today indicated the Padres are likely keeping Arraez, who’s eligible for free agency after 2025, this year.
Other notable players to settle on the 9th included Isaac Paredes ($6.625MM), Daulton Varsho ($8.2MM), Ryan Helsley ($8.2MM), Lane Thomas ($7.825MM), Logan Gilbert ($7.625MM), and Ranger Suarez ($8.8MM).
As of this writing, it’s unknown whether the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Devin Williams, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Kyle Tucker, and William Contreras — some of the other big names who are arbitration-eligible — have agreed to avoid or will exchange figures.
UPDATE (1/9): Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agreed to a one-year, $28.5MM deal to avoid arbitration.