Arb Notes: Diaz Gone, Gonzalez Signed, Eight Others Tendered

And in today's arb news: The Pirates non-tendered catcher Elias Diaz while signing Erik Gonzalez to a contract. Both were considered on the bubble. Eli was out of options and coming off a poor year both at bat (.241 BA, 61 OPS+) and in the field (-23 Defensive Runs Saved, 26% caught stealing), with an estimated $1.4M arb hit. Gonzalez had a hot September (.322 BA) and played four different positions competently to keep his name in play. The contract amount wasn't disclosed; his arb figure was guesstimated at $800K.

Eli played himself out of a job - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

Diaz's non-tender does clear a spot on the 40-man roster. It also leaves a big hole behind the plate, with just Jake Stallings remaining to man the position, and Ben Cherington will be working to fill it with a starting backstop at the upcoming winter meetings.

The eight tendered arb-eligible Bucs and their estimated 2020 salary (via MLB Trade Rumors): 1B Josh Bell: $5.9M, RHP Keona Kela: $3.4M, RHP Joe Musgrove: $3.4M, 2B Adam Frazier: $3.2M, RHP Trevor Williams: $3M, RHP Jameson Taillon: $2.3M, RHP Chad Kuhl: $1.4M, RHP Michael Feliz: $1.2M and IF Erik Gonzalez: $800K. Kela is in his third arb year and Feliz his second while the others are in their first season of eligibility. If the MLBTR estimates prove to be in the ballpark, the gang will ring up around $24M in payroll.

Next year's arb class could be huge - potentially, eight guys return and seven more (LHP Stephen Brault, RHP Nick Burdi, RHP Kyle Crick, 3B Colin Moran, UT Jose Osuna, RHP Rich Rodriguez and RHP Edgar Santana) become eligible in 2021.