Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki agrees to one-year contract for 2022, avoids arbitration

The Red Sox on Wednesday came to terms with Kevin Plawecki on a one-year contract, ensuring the backup catcher will avoid arbitration in his return for a third season in Boston in 2022.

Plawecki reportedly agreed to a $2.25 million salary for next season, according to the Globe, a raise from the $1.6 million he earned in 2021. The 30-year-old is set to become a free agent in 2023.

One of Chaim Bloom’s early signings, Plawecki has proved to be a stable option when given an opportunity in two seasons as Christian Vazquez’s primary backup. He has slashed .305/.365/.414 over 262 plate appearances, and emerged as Nathan Eovaldi’s go-to catcher in 2021 as the ace experienced a breakthrough season. Plawecki has also been responsible for keeping things fun in the Red Sox clubhouse, helping introduce the laundry cart ride after home runs last season, and the song “Dancing On My Own” that became popular during the postseason.

With Vazquez’s $7 million club option being picked up, the Red Sox will officially run it back with the same catcher tandem in 2022.

The Red Sox have six remaining players eligible for salary arbitration: Christian Arroyo, Rafael Devers, Nick Pivetta, Hunter Renfroe, Josh Taylor, and Alex Verdugo. Each of those players have already been tendered contracts for 2022, but both parties will need to agree to a salary to avoid arbitration.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, here are the projected 2022 salaries for each of those six:

Devers: $11.1 million
Renfroe: $7.6 million
Pivetta: $3.2 million
Verdugo: $3.2 million
Arroyo: $1.1 million
Taylor: $1.1 million

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3xHKX3D