ANAHEIM -- The Angels avoided arbitration with five of their six eligible players on Friday but notably could not come to an agreement with two-way star Shohei Ohtani in his first year of eligibility.
The two sides exchanged figures, with Ohtani filing for $3.3 million and the Angels countering at $2.5 million. Angels general manager Perry Minasian confirmed the two sides will head to a hearing in February, when a panel of arbitrators will decide whether Ohtani will earn $3.3 million or $2.5 million in ¡¯21. Minasian also noted that he had discussions with Ohtani¡¯s representatives only about a 2021 contract, signifying the club hasn't discussed a possible extension for Ohtani, who earned $700,000 in ¡®20.?
¡°Both sides agree he deserves a raise, but it¡¯s just how much is the question,¡± Minasian said. ¡°We weren¡¯t able to come to an agreement, but that¡¯s why this process is in place. Each side will present its case and whatever happens, happens.¡±?
The Halos went to a hearing with outfielder Brian Goodwin last year and lost their case, marking their first arbitration hearing since 2011 with Jered Weaver. Ohtani is an interesting case as the first two-way player to make it to arbitration, which makes it difficult to use other players as comparisons for salary figures.
¡°There¡¯s not a lot of comps when you¡¯re looking at a player who has pitched and swung the bat,¡± Minasian said. ¡°We did the best we could. I give our group a lot credit."
The Angels did reach deals to avoid arbitration with right-hander Dylan Bundy, left-hander Andrew Heaney, catcher Max Stassi and relievers Mike Mayers and Felix Peña, signing them all to one-year deals, the club announced.
Bundy is coming off his best season in the Majors, posting a 3.29 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings. He earned a raise to $8.235 million after making $5 million in '20. Bundy, 28, will be a free agent after the season.
Heaney, in his final year of arbitration, agreed to terms at $6.75 million, earning a raise from his $4.3 million contract in 2020. The lefty posted a 4.46 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings and is set to be a free agent after the ¡¯21 season.
Mayers agreed to terms on a $1.2 million deal in his first year of arbitration after a breakout season in relief with the Angels. The right-hander posted a 2.10 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 30 innings in 2020 and will be one of the club's top setup relievers in '21.
Stassi, 29, is set to earn $1.6 million, a raise from his $800,000 contract in 2020. He underwent left hip surgery in October but was productive last season, batting .278/.352/.533 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games. Minasian said the club is optimistic he¡¯ll be ready for Spring Training.
Pe?a, 30, pitched exclusively in relief in 2020, posting a 4.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. He made $587,000 in 2020 but will be getting a raise to $1.1 million in his first year of arbitration.