<p>Major League Baseball has set <a href="https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transa">Super Two</a> arbitration eligibility at two years, 132 days according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/durran-crawford-perdomo-arbitration-20ead4f64cdc82bb8373a467b8cd15ff">Ronald Blum of the Associated Press</a>. This is a slight bump from last season&#8217;s eligibility time frame, which was set at two years, 118 days.</p>
<p>With this time frame set, both <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ernie-clement/20352/stats?position=3B">Ernie Clement</a> (2.168) and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/zach-pop/20185/stats?position=P">Zach Pop</a> (2.171) have become eligible for arbitration under Super Two status according to Blum.</p>
<p>Under normal arbitration timeframes, players usually have three years of service time on an active roster before becoming eligible for arbitration. Through this process, players and clubs must agree before a set deadline in the offseason on a contract for next year at a minimum (multi-year deals like Bo Bichette&#8217;s deal can be made). Should the two sides not agree before this deadline, both the player and club submit a salary figure for next season and the two sides head to arbitration. Should the two sides still not agree before their hearing, a group of arbitrators hear from both sides and eventually decide on the player&#8217;s salary for the upcoming season, siding with one side or the other. Players usually have three years under arbitration before becoming eligible for free agency.</p>
<h2>Blue Jays&#8217; Ernie Clement and Zach Pop earn Super 2 status</h2>
<p>Under Super Two status, players who rank in the top 22% in terms of service time between two to three years of service time (and spent 86 days in the Majors or on the injured list last season) gain an additional fourth year of arbitration. This has benefits for the player in terms of earnings because under arbitration, the player and team exchange terms on a deal that is usually higher than what is offered through the pre-arbitration team control contract.</p>
<p>Clement spent the entire 2024 season with the Blue Jays and was one of the bright spots of a disappointing campaign for Toronto. He slashed .263/.284/.408 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs, and 51 RBIs while suiting up mostly at third base and splitting time at shortstop and second base. He earned a Gold Glove nomination at the hot corner with a 9 DRS and a .954 fielding percentage as well as a 92 outs above average.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="ro" dir="ltr">The 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Finalists &#8211; AL Third Base &#8211; Ernie Clement, José Ramírez, Alex Bregman<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawlingsGoldGloveAwards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RawlingsGoldGloveAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/msuRTvTwnB">pic.twitter.com/msuRTvTwnB</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/RawlingsSports/status/1846199357525110930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>While his OPS dipped to .692 given his low walk rate, Clement has elite contact rates and ranked in the 99th percentile in squared-up percentage (36.9%) while posting a 9.1 K% &#8211; almost 14% below the MLB average. Clement authored a 3.4 bWAR this season and will likely be given some runway to contribute at a full-time capacity next season as well.</p>
<p>Zach Pop also joins Clement in Super 2 status this offseason while riding the options bus between Buffalo and Toronto. He made 58 appearances out of the bullpen and posted a 5.59 ERA through 48 1/3 innings. The Canadian authored a 1.324 WHIP during his time in the big leagues and amassed a 3.5 BB/9 and a 6.1 K/9 to the tune of a 5.53 FIP.</p>
<p>Pop&#8217;s biggest concern was his inconsistency, as he had stretches of being a dominant pitcher and other moments where he was pitching in the home run derby. Through the month of May, he allowed just five earned runs through 13 outings and posted a 1.135 WHIP. On the other hand, he posted +4.00 ERA&#8217;s every other month (outside of April, where he made one appearance) and struggled with the long ball, posting a 1.7 HR/9.</p>
<p>Per Spotrac, Clement&#8217;s contract estimate comes in at $2.55 million and Pop slots in at $1 million. The two players join Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (a fellow Super 2 player), Daulton Varsho (also Super 2), Alejandro Kirk, and a handful of others slated for arbitration for the Blue Jays.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (28) gets congratulated after scoring against the New York Mets during the second inning at Rogers Centre.

Major League Baseball has set <a href="https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transa">Super Two</a> arbitration eligibility at two years, 132 days according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/durran-crawford-perdomo-arbitration-20ead4f64cdc82bb8373a467b8cd15ff">Ronald Blum of the Associated Press</a>. This is a slight bump from last season's eligibility time frame, which was set at two years, 118 days.

With this time frame set, both <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ernie-clement/20352/stats?position=3B">Ernie Clement</a> (2.168) and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/zach-pop/20185/stats?position=P">Zach Pop</a> (2.171) have become eligible for arbitration under Super Two status according to Blum.

Under normal arbitration timeframes, players usually have three years of service time on an active roster before becoming eligible for arbitration. Through this process, players and clubs must agree before a set deadline in the offseason on a contract for next year at a minimum (multi-year deals like Bo Bichette's deal can be made). Should the two sides not agree before this deadline, both the player and club submit a salary figure for next season and the two sides head to arbitration. Should the two sides still not agree before their hearing, a group of arbitrators hear from both sides and eventually decide on the player's salary for the upcoming season, siding with one side or the other. Players usually have three years under arbitration before becoming eligible for free agency.
<h2>Blue Jays' Ernie Clement and Zach Pop earn Super 2 status</h2>
Under Super Two status, players who rank in the top 22% in terms of service time between two to three years of service time (and spent 86 days in the Majors or on the injured list last season) gain an additional fourth year of arbitration. This has benefits for the player in terms of earnings because under arbitration, the player and team exchange terms on a deal that is usually higher than what is offered through the pre-arbitration team control contract.

Clement spent the entire 2024 season with the Blue Jays and was one of the bright spots of a disappointing campaign for Toronto. He slashed .263/.284/.408 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs, and 51 RBIs while suiting up mostly at third base and splitting time at shortstop and second base. He earned a Gold Glove nomination at the hot corner with a 9 DRS and a .954 fielding percentage as well as a 92 outs above average.

https://twitter.com/RawlingsSports/status/1846199357525110930

While his OPS dipped to .692 given his low walk rate, Clement has elite contact rates and ranked in the 99th percentile in squared-up percentage (36.9%) while posting a 9.1 K% - almost 14% below the MLB average. Clement authored a 3.4 bWAR this season and will likely be given some runway to contribute at a full-time capacity next season as well.

Zach Pop also joins Clement in Super 2 status this offseason while riding the options bus between Buffalo and Toronto. He made 58 appearances out of the bullpen and posted a 5.59 ERA through 48 1/3 innings. The Canadian authored a 1.324 WHIP during his time in the big leagues and amassed a 3.5 BB/9 and a 6.1 K/9 to the tune of a 5.53 FIP.

Pop's biggest concern was his inconsistency, as he had stretches of being a dominant pitcher and other moments where he was pitching in the home run derby. Through the month of May, he allowed just five earned runs through 13 outings and posted a 1.135 WHIP. On the other hand, he posted +4.00 ERA's every other month (outside of April, where he made one appearance) and struggled with the long ball, posting a 1.7 HR/9.

Per Spotrac, Clement's contract estimate comes in at $2.55 million and Pop slots in at $1 million. The two players join Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (a fellow Super 2 player), Daulton Varsho (also Super 2), Alejandro Kirk, and a handful of others slated for arbitration for the Blue Jays.

&nbsp;

Report – Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement and Zach Pop qualify for Super Two status

News and Notes: Blue Jays continue to pursue top-tier starting pitchers, thin catching market takes another hit, Cy Young Award winners, and more

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates with first baseman Spencer Horwitz (48) after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Rogers Centre.

Recent articles from Tyson Shushkewich

Breaking News