The Boston Red Sox began the 2024-25 offseason with three arbitration-eligible players but acquired a fourth in Garrett Crochet. The team settled with Crochet, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford before MLB's Jan. 9 arbitration deadline, but Jarren Duran didn't get so lucky.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Red Sox and Duran appear to be headed toward an arbitration hearing to determine his salary for 2025 — a painful process by many accounts. Boston hasn't had to go through with an arbitration hearing since 2020, when Eduardo Rodriguez was awarded $8.3 million after he lost his case.
MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR) predicted Duran would take home $4.9 million in 2025, and after his MVP-caliber season, he's due for a handsome raise. The outfielder made $760,000 in 2024, and slashed .285/.342/.492 with a .834 OPS, led the league in doubles, tied for the lead in triples and earned his first All-Star nomination.
Arbitration hearings will occur between Jan. 27-Feb. 14 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Red Sox and Duran can agree to terms anywhere between now and the start of the hearing to avoid the process altogether. Given that Duran was the team's best player last season, it should've met his demands before it was too late unless they were undoubtedly unreasonable. The figures exchanged by the two sides have not been released.
Red Sox agree to terms with Tanner Houck, Garrett Crochet and Kutter Crawford, arbitration hearing expected for Jarren Duran
Houck earned the most considerable raise of the three players who settled with a $3.95 million payday for the 2025 season, which is quite the raise from his $770,000 salary from 2024. Houck will make less than MLBTR projected — on Oct. 1, it predicted he'd earn $4.5 million this coming season.
The Red Sox and Jarren Duran appear headed for arbitration as today did not bring much progress in terms of a deal for 2025.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 10, 2025
Despite Houck's raise being less than expected, it's well-earned. He posted a career-best 3.12 ERA with 154 strikeouts, 48 walks and an American League-leading 0.6 home runs per nine innings across 30 starts.
Crochet secured a $3.8 million salary for 2025 despite only having one year of starting pitching experience under his belt. His first season in a rotation was excellent, though (3.58 ERA, 12.9 SO9, 1.068 WHP), and he deserves the pay raise as Boston's likely ace. MLBTR predicted Crochet would earn $2.9 million in arbitration, and he fared quite a bit better than that.
Cotillo reported on Jan. 8 that the Red Sox and Crochet have opened contract extension discussions but prioritized his arbitration salary. The two parties settling before the arbitration deadline does not rule out an extension this year.
Crawford and the Red Sox agreed on a $2.75 million check for the upcoming season. He posted a career-best 33 starts but also let up a league-leading 34 homers in 2024. Crawford's role with the 2025 Red Sox is also unclear. He could be a starter, but the Sox have much more rotation depth than last season. Crochet, Houck, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval could push Crawford to the bullpen and, therefore, into a reduced role from last season.