Los Angeles Dodgers starter Walker Buehler is among those who reportedly are eligible for salary arbitration this offseason for the first time as a Super Two player.
In addition to Buehler, other notable players across the league that are eligible via Super Two status include New York Yankees’ Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres and Luke Voit, Atlanta Braves’ Max Fried and Mike Soroka, New York Mets’ Dom Smith, Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto and Milwaukee Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff.
For those that are unfamiliar, how salary arbitration works in Major League Baseball is that a player must accrue three years of service time to be eligible. One year is equivalent to 172 days on the active roster during a normal 162-game season.
Super Two was created in order for players that have not yet reached three full years to be eligible for arbitration. In order for Buehler and the other players listed to qualify, they must rank in the top 22% among all players who have amassed between two and three years of service time.
So while Buehler hasn’t reached three full years, he has two full years and a majority of a third year, which makes him eligible. That means that he will be getting a significant raise in 2021, although how much will be determined in negotiations between him and the organization.
The righty is projected to make $2.7 this coming season, and that number should get higher in each of his ensuing years of arbitration eligibility before reaching free agency.
Buehler is coming off his worst big league season in 2020, although that was in part due to a blister issue he dealt with. In eight regular-season starts, he went 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA, 4.36 FIP and 0.96 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 11 walks in 36.2 innings.
Despite the blister problems, Buehler was able to pitch in the postseason and regained his dominant form, helping the Dodgers win their first World Series in 32 years.
It will be interesting to see if the Dodgers discuss signing Buehler to an extension now that he is arbitration-eligible as there is no doubt that he will be the ace of the organization for many years to come.
Buehler plays up pressure in postseason
Buehler’s success in the postseason dates all the way back to his rookie season in 2018 as he is already establishing himself as one of the best big-game pitchers in baseball.
He recently explained why he has been able to have so much success in October, crediting his ability to get up for big moments.
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