Three pitchers have club options for 2012 yet are not named on our free agent list. The reason? They'd still be arbitration eligible if the options are declined. Let's take a look.
- James Shields, Rays: $7MM club option with a $2MM buyout. This is a slam dunk, as Shields' arbitration salary would certainly beat the $5MM net price of the option. Plus, exercising for 2012 allows the Rays to enjoy options for '13 ($7.5MM net) and '14 ($11MM net). It should be noted that Shields' contract, signed prior to the '08 season, includes $6MM in performance bonuses.
- Fausto Carmona, Indians: $7MM club option. Carmona signed three months after Shields, and his contract also provides the ultimate in team flexibility with three club options. Carmona's 2012 option does require pause, but it's worth exercising as well.
- Colby Lewis, Rangers: $3.25MM club option with a $250K buyout. Coming from a $3MM salary, Lewis would obviously beat the $3MM net price of the option. So this one will be picked up as well.
