Aug 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits an RBI double and the go ahead run in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Nationals defeated the Rockies 5-4. Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $13.625 million deal Friday.
Harper, 24, received a pay increase of more than $8 million despite a down season in which he batted .243 with 24 homers and 86 RBIs. He made $5 million in 2016.
The four-time All-Star was unanimous National League MVP in 2015 when he batted .330 with 42 homers and 99 RBIs. Harper has a .279 career average with 121 homers and 334 RBIs in five seasons with the Nationals.
Harper is slated to become a free agent after the 2018 season and there are rumors his agent, Scott Boras, is seeking a 10-year, $400 million contract.
–The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jake Arrieta avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $15.64 million contract.
Arrieta made $10.7 million last season when he went 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA and was a pivotal part of their World Series-winning squad.
Arrieta is eligible for free agency after the 2017 campaign.
The right-hander put together a career-best season in 2015 when he went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and won the National League Cy Young Award.
–Postseason standout Cody Allen agreed to a one-year, $7.35 million deal with the Cleveland Indians to avoid salary arbitration.
The right-hander closer registered 32 saves with a 2.51 ERA in the regular season before helping fuel Cleveland’s run to the World Series. Allen recorded six saves and 24 strikeouts in 13 2/3 scoreless postseason innings and his 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings rate was the highest in postseason history among pitchers with at least 10 innings.
Allen, 28, has 90 saves in three seasons since becoming the Indians’ closer. He is 17-16 with a 2.61 ERA in five seasons with Cleveland.
Cleveland also reached deals with right-handers Zach McAllister (one year, $1.825 million) and Dan Otero (one year, $1.055 million).
–The Baltimore Orioles avoided salary arbitration with star closer Zach Britton when the two sides agreed on a one-year, $11.4 million deal.
The left-handed Britton finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award balloting last season when he was a perfect 47 of 47 in save opportunities.
Britton recorded a microscopic 0.54 ERA over 69 relief appearances while allowing four earned runs all season. He won the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award as the AL’s top bullpen performer.
Baltimore also agreed to terms with infielder Ryan Flaherty (one year, $1.8 million) and left-hander T.J. McFarland (one year, $685,000).
–Kansas City Royals star first baseman Eric Hosmer avoided arbitration with the team by agreeing to a one-year, $12.25 million deal.
Hosmer just completed a two-year deal in which he made $5.65 million in 2015 and $8.25 million last season. The 27-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent following the 2017 season.
Hosmer set career highs with 25 homers and 104 RBIs last season while batting .266. He was MVP of the All-Star Game.
The popular Hosmer was a key figure in Kansas City reaching the World Series in back-to-back seasons. He has a career batting average of .277 with 102 homers and 472 RBIs in six seasons with the Royals.
–Colorado Rockies star Nolan Arenado agreed to a two-year, $29.5 million deal with the club to avoid salary arbitration.
Arenado will make $11.75 million this season and $17.75 million in 2018. The two-time All-Star third baseman tied with Milwaukee’s Chris Carter for most homers in the National League last season with 41. He led the NL with 133 RBIs.
Arenado made just $512,500 last season when he batted .294 and scored 116 runs.
The 25-year-old has a .285 career average with 111 homers and 376 RBIs in four seasons with Colorado.
–The Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration with left-hander Dallas Keuchel by agreeing to terms on a one-year, $9.15 million deal.
The 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner struggled last season by going 9-12 with a 4.55 ERA. He was shut down in late August due to shoulder soreness.
Keuchel, who made $7.25 million last season, went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA during his Cy Young season. Keuchel is 50-47 with a 3.78 ERA in five seasons with the Astros.
Houston also settled with outfielder Jake Marisnick on a one-year, $1.1 million deal. He batted .209 with five homers last season.
— The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration with All-Star outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. when the two sides agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal.
Bradley recorded career highs of 26 homers and 87 RBIs last season while batting .267. The first-time All-Star made $546,000 last season.
Bradley, 26, has a .237 career average with 40 homers and 170 RBIs in parts of four seasons with the Red Sox.
Bradley was a first-round draft pick in 2011.
–The San Diego Padres and All-Star first baseman Wil Myers are on the verge of agreeing to a six-year deal worth more than $80 million, multiple outlets reported.
Myers is eligible for arbitration and the arrangement would cover his last three seasons of arbitration and his first three years of free agency.
Myers, 26, is now the face of the franchise after a breakout season that included career highs of 28 homers and 94 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game held in San Diego and batted .259.
Myers is entering his third season with the Padres after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade that also included the Washington Nationals.
