Dozens of arbitration eligible players have agreed to deals with their respective teams today and we've been tracking all of the developments right here. Several teams, including the Rays, Nationals, Marlins, White Sox, Blue Jays, Braves, and perhaps Astros, are known for committing to going to hearings if they get to the point of filing. Keep track of all the madness with MLBTR's arbitration tracker, which shows settlement amounts, filing figures, and midpoints. Today's players to avoid arbitration on deals worth less than $4MM:
- The Cardinals avoided arbitration with pitcher Kyle McClellan, tweets B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest. Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (on Twitter) that the one-year deal is worth $2.5MM with incentives based on starts. MLBTR projected a $2.7MM for the Steve Comte client.
- MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith reports (on Twitter) that the Padres and Chase Headley agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.475MM, avoiding arbitration. Earlier this evening, the Padres announced that they avoided arbitration with Luke Gregerson, Edinson Volquez, Carlos Quentin and Will Venable. They also avoided arbitration with lefty reliever Joe Thatcher on a deal worth $700K, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. CAA announced catcher John Baker has signed for $750K. Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune first reported that the Padres reached agreements with Hundley, Chase Headley, and Tim Stauffer. Hundley will earn $2MM in 2012, MLB.com's Corey Brock tweets. Dan Hayes of the North County Times tweets the salaries for Volquez ($2.2375MM), Venable ($1.475MM), Gregerson ($1.55MM)
- The Rangers avoided arbitration with Matt Harrison, tweets Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The ACES client gets $2.95MM on a one-year deal. MLBTR had projected a $2.9MM salary.
- The Cubs announced that they have avoided arbitration with Jeff Baker ($1.375MM), Blake DeWitt ($1.1MM), Ian Stewart ($2.237MM) Chris Volstad ($2.655MM), and Randy Wells ($2.705MM). MLB.com's Carrie Muskat tweeted the salary figures.
NYBravosFan10
Wow, that’s news to me because I’ve always known the Braves to almost never go to hearings. Don’t they usually figure things out beforehand? With Bourn (boras client, well deserving of a raise) things might get a little hairy but I think they’ll figure things out with him and JJ.
martinfv2
Well, I think they just don’t get to the point of filing for the most part.
NYBravosFan10
ooohhh ok, nvm I see what you’re saying. I thought you meant that they rarely figure things out before this deadline.
Sean
Poor Mark Lowe,
Never going to be anything more than a trivia question answer
KyleB
He actually pitched extremely well between injuries this past season.
LUWahooNatFan
Another great year or two from Zimm and he should be in line for an extension.. But not before Zim!
Lefty
the Jays have not been to arbitration hearing for any of there players in like a decade think the last one was Pete Walker or some nobody like him that the Jays won!!!
jshepp
They haven’t been there since 1997 and it was Bill Risley
SoCalAngelsFan75
Am I the only Halos fan concerned that Erick Aybar hasn’t appeared on this list?
vtadave
$2.7 million for Torres? Wow. What a waste.
All Day Réy
Arbitration Avoidance Month!!
LUWahooNatFan
Gorzo gets more money then Zimm.. what a sham
MisterMarlin
Marlins resigned Mujica to return to a bullpen that has Heath Bell and Oviedo (Leo Nunez) and Mike Dunn and Randy Choate and other young potential studs. Once they add Cespedes, they are a more than legit threat to take the NL East for the first time ever! Muy bien.
Brian J Malenke
To me, Delmon Young is a complete mystery. Based on what he did last season 6.75 mill seems incredibly steep, but the talent is there. If he can get locked in for an extended period of time, he’s truly a great hitter in any lineup. He regressed like it was nobody’s business last season but the Tigers got to see the good Delmon in the stretch run. I’ll be interested to see what he does this year.
Iconoclast17
Big boost for Brandon McCarthy in Oakland. Do the A’s trade him now, mid-season or keep him for all of 2012?
LanceKlein
He gets hurt in spring training
Iconoclast17
Better trade him now.
Snoochies8
Mid season if he’s healthy for sure. Same with bartolo, and kurt suzuki if he puts up good numbers
loadtimes
Sad to know that Joba Chamberlain is making more money than David Robertson.
Mikey Roederer
Is there anyway to organize this list a little better? Like maybe alphabetize or something? and group teams together? I noticed the Royals are listed twice…just a curiosity thing
MetsMagic
Mitch Maier deserves his own section.
AlKelz
I know the players union will never go for it , but I would like to see Arbitration abolished. Even George Stienbrenner pointed free agency is a choice , but arbitration requires all teams to match whatever the stupidest owner offers someone .
I would much rather that 3-6 year players have higher minimum salaries . That way when someone spends 270 million on a third basemen , it doesn’t inflate the cost for everyone. With players cost controlled for 6 years , perhaps more teams could compete?
Just a thought 😉
stl_cards16
The whole idea of arbitration is for players to get paid for how well they perform. I’m not saying it’s a perfect system but I don’t think it’s a big problem.
CaseyBlakeDeWitt
If players in years 3-6 still get some sort of minimum, than the bigger market teams are saving more money, and can buy every single free agent, not to mention once guys got to free agency, there salaries would likely be inflated drastically by an ensuing bidding war, since teams would have excessive money to spend.
AlKelz
Points taken . But this madness must end . The O’s may owe Guthrie 10.25 Million and he went 4-17 . If teams have to spend 10 Million a year on starters who lose 17 games a year , we are all doomed.
Yes , he pitched a lot of innings , yes his numbers would have been better if he had more run support . But I don’t deal in if’s , I deal in wins and losses . And to have my ” Ace ” loose 17 games a year and demand 10 Million plus to do it , well , this financial insainity must stop , somehow ?
AlKelz
I know the players union will never go for it , but I would like to see Arbitration abolished. Even George Stienbrenner pointed free agency is a choice , but arbitration requires all teams to match whatever the stupidest owner offers someone .
I would much rather that 3-6 year players have higher minimum salaries . That way when someone spends 270 million on a third basemen , it doesn’t inflate the cost for everyone. With players cost controlled for 6 years , perhaps more teams could compete?
Just a thought 😉
buddaley
The Rays also avoided arbitration with Upton, Price, & Howell.
bayareabeast
Nate the great. I really hope he starts in right this year, he showed alot of promise before he got hurt last year. Belt can season in AAA untill either Huff/one of the outfielders falter.
bonds2425
Totally agree. Schierholtz is great in RF. I was at the game when he hit the walk-off against the A’s last may. The guy shows power like he did in Colorado. He has one of the best arms. One he’s one of the fastest guys on the team too. He’s pretty legit. He just needs to hit for a better average and be more consistent.