PHOENIX — All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a $7.8 million, two-year contract ahead of their scheduled salary arbitration hearing Wednesday, leaving players with a final record of 3-1 this year in cases decided by three-person panels.
LeMahieu gets $3 million this year and $4.8 million in 2017.
Players had their first winning record in arbitration since they went 2-1 in 2011. Management has a 302-224 advantage since arbitration started in 1974, including an 8-6 record last year, the most hearings since 2001.
While 156 players filed for arbitration on Jan. 12, just four failed to settle. Three pitchers won their hearings: Toronto’s Jesse Chavez ($4 million), Tampa Bay’s Drew Smyly ($3.75 million) and Cincinnati’s J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million). Astros catcher Jason Castro ($5 million) lost.
A Gold Glove winner in 2014, LeMahieu set career bests last year with a .301 average and 61 RBIs, hitting six home runs. He became an All-Star for the first time.
When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month, LeMahieu had asked for a raise from $517,500 to $3.3 million, and the Rockies had offered $2.8 million.
