Earlier today we looked at the best arbitration eligible position players without extensions, including Geovany Soto, Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo, and Hunter Pence. Now let's tackle the best arbitration eligible starting pitchers currently on one-year deals. I've included agency info from our database.
- Francisco Liriano, Twins - Legacy Sports Group
- Jered Weaver, Angels – Boras Corporation
- Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers – Hendricks Sports
- Chad Billingsley, Dodgers – Dave Stewart
- John Danks, White Sox – CAA Sports
- Shaun Marcum, Brewers – Turner/Gary
- C.J. Wilson, Rangers – Select Sports Group
- Phil Hughes, Yankees – CAA Sports
- Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays – Wasserman Media Group
- Matt Garza, Cubs – CAA Sports
- Jonathan Sanchez, Giants – Boras Corporation
- Mike Pelfrey, Mets – Boras Corporation
- Dallas Braden, Athletics – Dan Lozano
- Anibal Sanchez, Marlins – Unknown
- Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles – CAA Sports
- Joe Saunders, Diamondbacks – Legacy Sports Group
- Jair Jurrjens, Braves – Boras Corporation
The Boras influence is probably present with Weaver, who would have lost good money if he'd signed an extension before the 2010 season. Even after losing an arbitration case, Weaver has earned $11.635MM with one arbitration year remaining. Sanchez, Pelfrey, and Jurrjens probably aren't the caliber of pitcher most teams feel compelled to extend. That holds true for many of the non-Boras clients at the bottom of the list as well.
Danks has certainly piled up extension-worthy numbers. He turned down four years and $15MM from the White Sox before his first arbitration year. He's up to $9.45MM for his first two, so he could total $20MM over three arbitration years if he performs well again in 2011. Danks could enter free agency at age 27, though he's said he's "extremely happy" in Chicago. Barring injury, he could earn a huge contract. With Billingsley, who is on a similar track, you have to wonder what the Dodgers offered, if anything.
With the others on the list, you can see why the teams would prefer to wait for health or consistency reasons. That's a double-edged sword, because a big 2011 brings the pitcher one step closer to free agency and drives the price up for an extension.
Given the contracts handed out over the past few offseason to pitchers i dont imagine more then two of these guys signing extentions. Hitting free agency at a younger age not only increases thier value but sets them up for anouther potential significan pay day around thier age 34-35.
someone will bite on Liriano, but it wont be Minnesota imo. Also I can see the Dodgers forking over a little bit to buy out a year or two of Kershaws free agency
with jackson and buehrle coming off the books this season and the uncertainty of peavy. I could see the whitesox finally opening up the check book for the future ace Dank. im thinking 6 years 60 mill base with incentives. That way its not to much of a team discount but its also not a top dollar extension that is tradeable if needed.
Didn’t Danks already reject an extension from the White Sox? And “future ace”? Good luck with that one…
Cole Hamels is arb eligible next year.
True, but not currently on a one-year deal. But yeah probably merits a mention.
Tim, when you talked about “Sanchez, Pelfrey, and Juirjens” were you talking about Jonathan Sanchez or Anibal? I went back up to the list to look and they were both on it