When is the MLB Arbitration deadline? Reds players who are eligible & more

The Cincinnati Reds shed some unnecessary salary obligations for the 2024 season's payroll at the non-tender deadline by letting go of Derek Law, Nick Senzel, and others.

But there's still plenty of players remaining on Cincinnati's 40-man roster who'll be due a pay raise in 2024. In case you're unfamiliar with how salary arbitration works, essentially players who have more than three years of service time but less than six must exchange salary figures for the upcoming season.

Most teams and players prefer to amicably work out a salary for the upcoming season and avoid arbitration altogether. But there are rare instances when a panel of arbiters will hear the case and make the final decision on the player's salary. With that as a backdrop, how will all this affect the Reds' 2024 roster?

When is the MLB Arbitration deadline?

The MLB arbitration deadline is fast approaching. Players and teams have until January 12, 2024 to come to terms on an agreement or else they'll head to arbitration. Those hearing will likely take place later this month and into early-February.

The Cincinnati Reds avoided arbitration with all their players a year ago. The last time the club went to an arbitration hearing was in 2022 with reliever Lucas Sims. It was reported that Sims was seeking $1.6 million, but lost his arbitration case and was owed $1.2 million that season.

Which Reds players are eligible for arbitration?

After parting ways with Derek Law, Justin Dunn, Nick Senzel, and Vladimir Gutierrez, the Cincinnati Reds have just six players remaining on the roster who are eligible for arbitration. That list of players includes right-handed pitchers Lucas Sims and Tejay Antone, left-handed pitcher Alex Young, infielder Jonathan India, outfielder Jake Fraley, and catcher Tyler Stephenson.

This will be the first time through the exercise for Young, India, Fraley, and Stephenson. Antone is Year 2 arbitration-eligible, and this will be the final year that Sims will go through the process.

What are the projected salaries for the Reds arbitration-eligible players?

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Cincinnati Reds are projected to spend approximately $14 million on their six arbitration-eligible players, with Jonathan India likely taking home the largest payday.

• Jonathan India: $3.7 million
• Tyler Stephenson: $2.9 million
• Lucas Sims: $2.8 million
• Jake Fraley: $2.2 million
• Alex Young: $1.7 million
• Tejay Antone: $900K

Outside of Hunter Greene, the Reds entered the offseason without any long-term commitments. The team has since re-signed Luke Maile and Buck Farmer, while also agreeing to terms with Jeimer Candelario, Emilio Pagán, Nick Martinez, and Frankie Montas.

With the Reds unlikely to take on any other major deals for the rest of this offseason, once those players who are up for arbitration agree to terms, Cincinnati's 2024 payroll will be all but set.