Eugenio Suarez had dutifully followed baseball’s reserve clause. He’d earned the minimum salary for parts of four major league seasons. 2018 would be his first chance to negotiate with a club and exercise his right to arbitration if he wanted. But then Suarez and the Reds couldn’t reach agreement so they proceeded to a third-party hearing in February. Suarez asked for $4.2m (remember that number), the Reds countered with $3.75m. The arbitrator sided with the Reds.
The Uncertain Labor Market
The financial future of Major League Baseball is bright with one exception.