Price tag for Price is $19.75 million

Sat., Jan. 17, 2015

Detroit Tigers left-hander David Price set a record for the highest one-year contract for a player in salary arbitration, agreeing to a $19.75 million deal Friday as 95 players reached agreements on the busiest day of baseball’s offseason.

Several other pitchers got big salaries, including Washington’s Doug Fister ($11.4 million) and Stephen Strasburg ($7.4 million), Boston’s Rick Porcello ($12.5 million), San Diego’s Ian Kennedy ($9.85 million), and Jeff Samardzija of the Chicago White Sox ($9.8 million).

Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis, with one game left to serve on a 25-game suspension for using the banned stimulant Adderall, got the largest deal among position players Friday at $12 million. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, coming off season-ending elbow surgery in June, agreed at $8,275,000, and New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy at $8 million.

Of the 175 players who filed for arbitration on Tuesday, just 74 exchanged figures with their teams and only 54 were without agreements by Friday night.

Of the cases still to be determined, Houston outfielder Dexter Fowler asked for the most at $10.8 million, with the Astros offering $8.5 million.

Baltimore outfielder Steve Pearce presented the biggest difference: He asked for $5.4 million and the team offered $2 million. Orioles pitcher Bud Norris also had a big gap, requesting $10.25 million as the team offered $7.5 million.

Cases that don’t settle will be scheduled for hearings before three-person panels next month in St. Petersburg, Florida. Just three of the 146 players who filed last year needed decisions.

M’s agree to 5 deals

Mariners center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to a $7.7 million contract for the 2015 season and avoided salary arbitration, receiving a nice boost going into his first full year with Seattle.

Jackson, acquired before last year’s trade deadline from Detroit, made $6 million in 2014.

The Mariners also agreed to one-year deals with outfielders Dustin Ackley ($2.6 million) and Justin Ruggiano ($2,505,000) on Friday, along with relief pitcher Charlie Furbush ($1.3 million) and first baseman Logan Morrison ($2,725,000).

Relief pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen is Seattle’s only remaining player in arbitration.

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Price tag for Price is $19.75 million

M’s agree to 5 deals

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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