Yankees agree with Didi Gregorius, Nathan Eovaldi, avoiding arbitration

The Yankees and Didi Gregorius agreed to a one-year, $2.45-million contract to avoid arbitration. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Yankees have avoided arbitration by agreeing to one-year deals with shortstop Didi Gregorius and righthander Nathan Eovaldi, the club announced on Tuesday.
Both players essentially met in the middle of arbitration figures exchanged last week, a source confirmed.
Gregorius signed for $2.425 million. He had filed for a $2.525-million salary while the Yankees submitted a figure of $2.3 million. Eovaldi settled at $5.6 million. He had filed for a $6.3-million salary with the Yankees filing at $4.9 million.
After a slow start replacing Derek Jeter, the 25-year-old Gregorius rebounded to hit .265 with nine homers and 56 RBIs. Acquired in a trade with the Diamondbacks last winter, Gregorius played in a career-high 155 games and finished his first season in the Bronx as a Gold Glove finalist at shortstop.
Gregorius won’t become a free agent until 2020.
Eovaldi, 25, went 14-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 27 starts in his first season since coming over in a trade with the Marlins. He led the Yankees in victories.
The signings leave two arbitration-eligible players without deals for 2016: new closer Aroldis Chapman and righthander Ivan Nova. The Yankees have not taken a player to arbitration since 2009.