Dozens of arbitration-eligible players reached agreements with their teams, settling on a contract figure for 2025, avoiding the prospect of an arbitration hearing ahead of the league’s deadline on Thursday, Jan 9.
One notable player, Red Sox outfielder and All-Star MVP, failed to reach an agreement before the deadline, resulting in both sides potentially heading to an arbitration court hearing to determine the player's salary for the season.
Duran wanted $4 million, and Boston countered with $3.5 million, leaving many to wonder when both sides would eventually meet in the middle or if they would really go to a nasty arbitration hearing to settle their salary dispute.
The two sides would come to an agreement: Duran would get $3.85 million, plus an $8 million club option for the 2026 campaign that could escalate to $12 million if all the escalators in his contract were hit. The Red Sox could decline his club option if the electric outfielder regressed in 2025, resulting in both sides having to go through the potential arbitration process.
In this video, Diamond Discourse’s Matty Kiwoom goes over what exactly arbitration is in Major League Baseball.
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