Twins Arbitration Notes

The Twins had seven arbitration-eligible players following the 2017. However, they non-tendered catcher Chris Gimenez shortly after the season. So, Friday was a big day for six Twins players. Here is the breakdown:

EDUARDO ESCOBAR

The Twins utility player turned every day player (almost every season) put up his best year to date in 2017. This is his final season before becoming a free agent. He made $2.6 million in 2017. Twins Daily projected he would make $5.0 million in 2018 while MLB Trade Rumors predicted $4.9 million. The two sides reached an agreement on Thursday night at $4.85 million.

ROBBIE GROSSMAN

Grossman spent most of the 2017 as the Twins primary DH and he had another good season. This is his first chance to make some serious money through arbitration. Twins Daily projected a 2018 pay day at $2.0 million. MLB Trade Rumors projected $2.4 million. The two sides agreed at $2.0 million, avoiding arbitration.

RYAN PRESSLY

While 2017 was another year full of ups and downs (including time in AAA) for Pressly, he ended the year quite strong. In 2017, he made $1.175 million in his first arbitration season. Twins Daily predicted $2.0 million for Pressly, and MLB Trade Rumors projected $1.6 million. He agreed at $1.6 million.

EHIRE ADRIANZA

The Twins acquired Adrianza last offseason and he became a solid contributor in a utility role, playing around the infield and even getting time in left field. Twins Daily and MLB Trade Rumors both predicted that he would make $1.0 million in 2018, and that is the number that the two sides agreed upon.

TREVOR MAY

May missed the entire 2017 season due to Tommy John surgery. He will return to the Twins sometime in 2018, hopefully fairly early. His role has not yet been established. Will he get another chance to start, or will he return to the bullpen? And which role would be best for him? Twins Daily predicted he would get a bump to $1.0 million in 2018. MLB Trade Rumors predicted he would receive $600,000. The two sides agreed at $650,000.

KYLE GIBSON

In general, 2017 was a tough season for Kyle Gibson. In fact, he was twice sent down to AAA Rochester. However, when he came back, he was much better. In fact, he was arguably their most consistent (maybe even best) starter down the stretch. In his final 12 Twins starts of 2017, he went 7-2 with a 3.57 ERA (and the Twins went 10-2 in those games) Twins Daily predicted he would make $5.5 million in 2018. MLB Trade Rumors projected a $5.3 million salary for Gibson.

According to Jon Heyman, the Twins offer to Kyle Gibson is $4.2 million and the Gibson side is asking for $4.55 million. The $350,000 difference would seems to be small enough that the sides should be able to meet somewhere in the middle, maybe even through some incentives.

NOTE - We should soon hear the exchanged dollar figures between Gibson and the Twins. This will be updated at that time.