The Marlins and the first baseman Jesus Aguilar have agreed on a $7.5 million deal to avoid arbitration, reports MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (on twitter). That comes in the form of a $7.3 million salary for the upcoming season plus a $200,000 buyout for a new reciprocal option for the 2023 campaign. That buyout will increase to $250,000 if Aguilar, a client of MVP Sports Group, made at least 550 record appearances this season.
Aguilar had submitted at $7.75 million while the team had countered at $7 million. They will eventually arrive just north of the midpoint of these numbers to avoid an in-season hearing. That completes the final journey through the Arb procedure for Aguilar as the 31-year-old is set to meet free agency at the end of the season.
The mutual option theoretically raises the possibility that it won’t hit the open market, although it’s likely little more than an accounting measure. Mutual options are very rarely exercised by either side, and the primary purpose is to defer the team’s responsibility for the buyout until the end of the season, rather than spread that money over the coming months in 2022 salary.
Aguilar has spent the last two seasons in South Florida. He has served as Miami’s primary first baseman since being released from waivers by the Rays in December 2019. The right-hander was a solid but not elite hitter on this run, hitting .265/.336/.458 at a pitcher-friendly home field. He’ll be part of a solid group of free agents first basemen next winter; Brandon belt, Jose Abreu, Josh Bell, Julia Gurriel and Trey Mancini are all ready to hit the open market while Anthony Rizzo will have the option to turn down his deal with the Yankees.