Blue Jays appear headed to arbitration with Stroman and Osuna

The Toronto Blue Jays appear headed to an arbitration hearing with both Marcus Stroman and Roberto Osuna as both sides filed their respective salary demands yesterday. The Jays are traditionally a file and trial team so in all likelihood, it will take an arbitrator to decide on their earnings for the upcoming season.

This will be the second time in as many years that Blue Jays management and Marcus Stroman were unable to find any common ground. Last offseason the arbitrator ruled in favour of Stroman awarding him $3.4 million over the $3.1 million the Jays had filed for.

This time around Stroman has filed for $6.9 million while the Jays have countered at $6.5 million, a difference of $400,000. Stroman is fresh off a breakout campaign that saw him shine on the world stage at the World Baseball Classic and then follow it up with a 13-9 season with a 3.09 earned run average while eclipsing the 200 innings plateau for the second consecutive season.

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Roberto Osuna was also not able to come to an agreement before the deadline and filed for $5.8 million while the Jays countered on this one at $5.3 million, a discrepancy of $500,000. This will be the closers first time going to a hearing.

Osuna had an up and down season even though he was rewarded with his first All-Star appearance after a very good first half. The 22-year battled some anxiety issues in 2017 and also led the league with 10 blown saves. Through it all, Osuna managed to finish the season with a 3.38 earned run average and a career-high 39 saves.

Interestingly enough MLB Trade Rumors had projected Stroman to earn $7.2 million while they had Osuna pegged at $5.6 million.

Next: Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Josh Donaldson

It wasn’t all doom and gloom yesterday as the Jays did come to terms with seven other arbitration-eligible players in Josh Donaldson, Aaron Sanchez, Devon Travis, Kevin Pillar, Ezequiel Carrera, Aaron Loup and Dominic Leone.