The Royals have just $36 million in guaranteed contracts for next year, but they could have several arbitration cases to deal with this winter.
Players are eligible for arbitration once they accrue at least three or more years of service time (plus “Super Two” players) but are not yet eligible for free agency. Clubs have to decide whether to “tender” the player a contract, and the two sides negotiate on a salary, and if they are unable to come to agreement by February, each side submits a figure to an independent arbitrator. The arbitrator will pick a side to win, and cannot split the difference.