Mason Miller, Zach Neto Among 34 Super Two Players Eligible

The latest MLB offseason development saw thirty-four young players reach Super Two arbitration eligibility. This gives them an earlier shot to negotiate salaries based on their on-field performance.

Mason Miller, Zach Neto, and Maikel Garcia headline this year’s group. It’s a sign that teams are leaning more into rewarding younger, high-performing players.

The Super Two threshold climbed again, continuing a trend that’s been building for a while. It’s another example of the ongoing tug-of-war between club control and player pay in baseball.

Understanding the Super Two Rule

The Super Two designation is a major part of Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement. It lets a select group of players with more than two years but less than three years of service time reach salary arbitration a year earlier than most.

That faster track can really change player earnings—and how teams juggle their payrolls. The rule kicked in back in 1991, then expanded in 2013 to cover the top 22% of qualifying players by service time.

That extra year of arbitration can mean millions more over a player’s career. It’s a big deal, especially for guys who break out early.

This Year’s Super Two Cutoff

In 2024, the cutoff landed at two years and 140 days of service time. Last year, it was two years and 132 days.

The cutoff shifts every year, depending on how service time shakes out across the league. Sometimes it’s as low as 2 years, 115 days (like in 2019); other times, it jumps as high as 2 years, 146 days (hello, 2011).

Key Players Headlining the 2024 Group

This year, 34 MLB players secured early arbitration eligibility. There are some real standouts in that bunch:

• Mason Miller – San Diego’s flamethrowing reliever with electric strikeout numbers.
• Zach Neto – Angels shortstop who’s quickly become a defensive anchor.
• Maikel Garcia – Royals third baseman delivering steady contact and solid fielding.

Other Notable Names

It’s not just the headliners. Colorado’s Brenton Doyle, Milwaukee’s Brice Turang, Cincinnati’s Matt McLain, and Washington’s Jake Irvin also made the cut.

Each reached the 2 years, 140 days threshold, so they’re all set for arbitration this coming year.

Heartbreak for Those Missing the Cut

Some players just missed out thanks to the higher threshold. Seattle’s Jackson Kowar, Tampa Bay’s Manuel Rodríguez, and Cincinnati’s Brandon Williamson all finished with 2 years, 139 days of service.

That’s just one day short. Ouch.

The Impact of Just Missing Out

Missing the cutoff means waiting another year for arbitration. That delay can cost players millions, especially if they’re already making a big impact on the field.

What’s Next in the Arbitration Process

Now that the Super Two group is set, the formal arbitration process kicks off. Players and teams will swap salary figures on January 8.

That’s when the negotiations—or standoffs—really begin.

Key Arbitration Dates

If they can’t agree, arbitration hearings run from January 26 to February 13 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Those hearings can get pretty tense, with teams arguing for lower salaries and players pushing for pay tied to their stats and market value.

Why Super Two Matters for MLB Teams

For front offices, Super Two eligibility changes how they plan and budget. Early arbitration means salaries go up faster, especially for players who are already making waves.

It’s great for the players, but teams have to balance on-field performance with long-term financial flexibility. That’s never easy, and it’s not getting simpler any time soon.

The Bigger Picture

This year’s class really shows how much young, high-impact players are shaping MLB right now. More players are reaching arbitration earlier, and that’s shifting how teams think about contracts.

The Super Two rule keeps service time management front and center. For players, it opens up a key path to fair market pay, which feels overdue for some of these guys.

This offseason, the tug-of-war between player leverage and team control will be hard to ignore. Thirty-four newly eligible players now have a shot at bigger earnings and some well-earned recognition for what they’ve already done on the field.

Agents, execs, and fans—everyone’s going to be watching these arbitration cases unfold. Who knows how it’ll shake out, but it’s bound to get interesting.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Miller among 34 Super 2s eligible for arbitration