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Arbitration Eligibles: Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are next in our arbitration eligibles series.
- First time: Jose Arredondo, Homer Bailey, Paul Janish
- Second time: Edinson Volquez, Jared Burton, Bill Bray
- Third time: Nick Masset
I see Burton as the most likely non-tender candidate, though he projects for only $900K. The 30-year-old righty missed most of the season due to a shoulder issue.
Many of the remaining arbitration eligibles disappointed in 2011, but will probably be tendered contracts. A projected salary rundown: Masset ($2.4MM), Volquez ($2.3MM), Bailey ($1.8MM), Arredondo ($1MM), Janish ($800K). Janish seems the most likely of this group to be non-tendered, but I think his defense and low salary will save him. The Reds could trim payroll by trading a few of these players though.
If Masset, Volquez, Bailey, Arredondo, and Janish are retained, the cost should be around $8.3MM. Excluding buyouts for Francisco Cordero and Brandon Phillips, the Reds have $50.558MM in 2012 contractual commitments according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. The five arbitration eligibles would bring them to about $59MM before minimum salary players are considered, which is about $22MM below the 2011 Opening Day payroll of $81MM. GM Walt Jocketty expects to bump up payroll a little, but the majority of the surplus will probably go to Phillips and Cordero.
Matt Swartz contributed to this post.
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