The Blue Jays have avoided arbitration with Frank Francisco by agreeing on a one-year, $4MM contract, reports the team's official Twitter feed. Francisco is represented by Praver/Shapiro.
Francisco joined the Jays just last Tuesday after being acquired from Texas in exchange for Mike Napoli. The right-hander submitted a $4.88MM arb number to the Rangers, who countered with a $3.5MM offer. This was Francisco's last year of arbitration eligibility, and he is a free agent next winter.
Francisco moved into a setup role in the Rangers bullpen last season and delivered a strong season (3.76 ERA, 10.3 K/9 rate, 3.33 K/BB ratio) for the American League champs. Francisco lost the closer's job to Neftali Feliz in Texas, but he is expected to compete with Jon Rauch and Octavio Dotel for game-finishing duties with the Jays.
According to the MLBTR ArbTracker, Jose Bautista is the only arb-eligible Toronto player who has yet to sign a 2011 contract. MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith looked at the unique nature of Bautista's arbitration case last fall.
surprised there was no club option.
I’m sure AA tried to get a club option, but it’s a two way street.
Oh well, this is incentive for Franky to put up big numbers to get the dough in the off season. Let’s hope it affects the Elias rankings in a good way.
Frank Francisco filed for $4.875MM, the Rangers $3.5MM.
so closer to the jays number
WORLD SERIES TIMEEEE
Hey i really like what the jays are doing.
i think its almost time we are ready to bring back the world series.
I think if they go to 140-150mil payroll as they said they might do, we will soon be in the playoffs year in and year out
“This was Francisco’s last year of arbitration eligibility, and he is a free agent next winter.”
Wrong. Francisco was already a free agent and accepted arbitration.
that is correct… he and his new team mate Frasor where the only two Type As to accept arbitration rather than take their chances in the FA market
Actually Francisco wasn’t a free agent it was his last year of arbitration. A free agent can’t accept arbitration he can he resign with his team or go to free agency.
No, you’re wrong. Ranked free agents like Francisco are offered arbitration in the hopes that they will decline and garner picks, but he decided to accept. His service time is over 6 years if you needed more proof.
I don’t think the contract actually goes into effect until after the decision to accept/deny arbitration is made though. Either way it’s pretty picky to call them out on it.