Marcell Ozuna’s one-year deal calling for him to receive $12.25 million next season, which avoided arbitration Friday, is believed to be the highest one-year contract for a Cardinals position player, just ahead of Lance Berkman’s $12 million for one year in 2012.
Reliever Greg Holland signed for $14 million for one year this past March, but the arbitration process wasn’t involved. Ozuna made $9 million for the Cardinals in 2018 after being acquired from the Miami Marlins.
Ozuna and the Cardinals’ other two arbitration-eligible players, righthander Michael Wacha and reliever Dominic Leone, all reached agreement Friday on contracts for next year.