Drew Storen, five others qualify for Super Two status

Washington Nationals reliever Drew Storen and five other players have qualified for Super Two status under baseball’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, reports the Associated Press. Storen, et al. are not the only players with Super Two eligibility this offseason, but rather are the only ones to qualify because of the rule changes:

Under the labor contract agreed to last November, the top 22 percent of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration along with the 3-to-6 year players. From 1991 through last year, the top 17 percent in the 2-to-3-year group had been eligible.

The cutoff was 2 years, 139 days, down from what would have been 2 years, 144 days under the old rule.

Granting a player Super Two status means that player is eligible for four years of salary arbitration, not the typical three. These players will usually receive a higher salary than normal because of the extra year to negotiate with their club.

The other extra players eligible for the special arbitration process are Rays outfielder Sam Fuld, Rockies outfielder Tyler Colvin, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, Mets catcher Josh Thole and Diamondbacks third baseman Chris Johnson. Several players, such as Mariners outfielder Michael Saunders and Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, just missed the Super Two cutoff.

Other players who are eligible for Super Two arbitration under either CBA include Giants catcher Buster Posey, Brewers closer John Axford and Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, among others.