Salary arbitration is a tricky process where, if the parties involved let it get to a hearing, things can get ugly.
Basically, the team will argue why X player deserves to be paid less than what he is asking for: you don’t want to do that.
It appears to be the fate of Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize, who still doesn’t know how much he will make in 2024 because he couldn’t avoid arbitration before the deadline on Thursday.
“Casey Mize requested $840K in arb, the Tigers offered $815K, just $75K above minimum salary for 2024, sources tell @TheAthletic. Mize, drafted No. 1 overall in ‘18, missed most of last two seasons recovering from TJ. The Tigers, as a file-and-trial team, will now go to a hearing with Mize over $25K unless they sign him to a multi-year deal, which is unlikely considering how much time he has missed,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal tweeted.
The Tigers, as a file-and-trial team, will now go to a hearing with Mize over $25K unless they sign him to a multi-year deal, which is unlikely considering how much time he has missed.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 12, 2024
Mize is part of a group of 22 players that couldn’t agree on their salary with their respective teams.
Now, there is still time to settle in a middle ground, but those who don’t will go to a hearing.
Mize, who has missed plenty of time with injuries in his first few years in MLB and didn’t pitch at all in 2023, filed for $840,000.
The Tigers want to give him $815,000.
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, missing the entire 2023 campaign.
The last update on his health, in November, was positive: he has been throwing bullpens at the Tigers’ spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida and will be ready for spring training.
With a career 4.29 ERA in parts of three seasons, setting his 2024 salary is crucial for his future earnings.
That’s why the sides are likely to go to arbitration; not necessarily over the $25K gap for this year.
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