Mariners agree to 2021 contracts with final 3 arbitration-eligible players

The Mariners took care of some business Friday morning, coming to agreement on contracts for the 2021 season with their three remaining arbitration eligible players.

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The Mariners avoid arbitration with their two first-year eligible players, J.P. Crawford and Tom Murphy. Crawford, who hit .255/.336/.338 (.674 OPS) and won the American League Gold Glove at shortstop in 2020, has agreed on what is reported to be a $2.05 million deal for 2021 season. The figure for Murphy, a catcher who missed the 2020 season with a fractured bone in his foot, has not yet been reported.

Relief pitcher Rafael Montero, who the Mariners acquired in a trade with the Rangers on Dec. 15, will get a bump from $785,000 in 2020 to $2.5 million next season. This is his third year of arbitration eligibility. Appearing in 17 games after starting the 2020 season on the injured list with right elbow tendinitis, Montero recorded eight saves while posting an ERA of 4.08 in Texas.

Under the leadership of general manager Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners have avoided arbitration with all eligible players. The last Marines player to go through the arbitration process with Seattle was Tom Wilhelmsen in 2014. In that case the arbitration panel ruled in favor of the club.

All 40 players on the Mariners’ 40-man roster have either signed or are under club control for 2021.

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