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More big names join today’s Mookie Betts news of “who got sweet, sweet contracts today”. Today, the Reds avoided arbitration deals with five players, most notably Trevor Bauer, who according to MLB’s Mark Feinsand, recieved $17.5M for 2020. Bauer has gone to arbitration hearings both last year and the year before.
Per source, RHP Trevor Bauer and the Reds avoid arbitration, settle for $17.5 million. Bauer had gone to hearings in each of the past two years.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 10, 2020
It seems Cincinnati wanted to kill the All-Star’s fun, who enjoyed going up against Cleveland in his 2019 arbitration hearing and accused the team’s lawyers of, “character assassination”. He was awarded $2M more than Cleveland was trying to give him, making $13M last season.
The amount he was awarded this season is more than shocking, considering how much of a tailspin the 28-year fell into in 2019. Between Cleveland and Cincinnati, he recorded an overall record of 11-13 with a 4.48 ERA in 34 games. His stat line after the trade deadline was worse: a 2-5 record with a 6.39 ERA in only 10 starts on the Reds. He’ll be making more after that abysmal season than he did the season after finishing 6th in the Cy Young race. You can buy a lot of drones with that money.
Bauer is second only the the Joey Votto on Cincinnati’s payroll.
Bobby Nightengale, Reds beat reporter for the the Cincinnati Enquirer, reported the DeSclafani details, as well as those of catcher Curt Casali:
Anthony DeSclafani agrees to a 1-year, $5.975M contract to avoid arbitration. He will be a free agent after the season. #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) January 10, 2020
Curt Casali avoids arbitration with the #Reds, agreeing to a 1-year, $1,462,500 deal for next season.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) January 10, 2020
Also getting their cash from the Reds: Travis Jankowski came to an agreement on just over $1M for a one-year deal few weeks ago. Coupled with the other deal from earlier today, Michael Lorenzen avoiding arbitration on a 1-year, $3.725M, and right-hander Matt Bowman swerving that hearing for $865,000, the Reds are moving and shaking into the 2020 season with a stock of strong veterans to pull from.