We'll round up any and all players that agree to deals today to avoid arbitration in this post, so check back in for updates…
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports (via Twitter) that the Rangers have avoided arbitration with reliever Frank Francisco by agreeing to a one-year, $3.265MM contract.
- The official Brewers Twitter site is reporting that Carlos Villanueva has agreed to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $950K according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy (via Twitter).
- The Red Sox and Jeremy Hermida have agreed to a one-year deal for 2010 to avoid arbitration according to a team press release. Michael Silverman of The Boston Herald reports (via Twitter) that Hermida will earn $3.345MM in 2010. Theo Epstein's streak of avoiding arbitration lasts another year.
what is the benefit of a GM avoiding arbitration? Not trying to be snarky, just wondering. Do those agreements work out better for the club if they dont go before arbitration?
I think it’s just a sign of how the GM is able to communicate with his players, that they’re able to agree and not have to put it forth to a third party. Also, it’s just a record that people watch now, I don’t really see how it’s important either. :P
Well for example, Papelbon and the Red Sox went for arbitration, Papelbon would want $10 but the Red Sox only want to pay him $8 M, the Red Sox will list out reasons on why he is worth less and so on. So they might not want to have hurt feelings and such.
Arbitration is generally viewed as a negative process between players and clubs, as players try to convince the third party why they deserve the money and the club has to make arguments against the player as to why they don’t. Basically a club has to bash their own players to save a few million, and pre-Ryan Howard winning his case, the club usually won.
I can’t say for certain, but I’d be willing to bet a large majority of players who went to arbitration eventually left at their first crack at free agency.
Anybody else think that’s an awful lot of money for Hermida?? Take away his one decent year in ’07, and he is around a .720 OPS for his career. His defense is rather suspect too. If this guy was 36 instead of 26, he’d be begging to be someone’s fourth outfielder.
its an interesting accomplishment, a GM that works well with players to avoid arbitration. he even get Papelbon through arbitration this year and hes not going to stay long term.