GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The Cincinnati Reds avoided arbitration with seven of their eight arbitration-eligible players Tuesday, but they may go to arbitration with reliever Lucas Sims.
It’s possible the Reds and Sims could settle before an arbitration hearing. Sims filed for a $1.6 million salary and the Reds countered at $1.2 million. If they don’t settle beforehand, an arbitrator will pick one of the salaries.
The Reds haven’t had an arbitration hearing with a player since Alex Wood in 2019. Wood won his hearing, earning $950,000 more than the Reds’ filing number.
Teams typically exchange salary numbers with arbitration-eligible players in January, but it was delayed because of the 99-day lockout.