23 Free Agents Offered Arbitration
23 free agents were offered arbitration this year, one fewer than last year. If you're not sure what offering arbitration means, click here to read our free agent arbitration primer.
The following players were offered arbitration today, and now have until December 7th to decide whether to accept:
Type A (10 players)
Chone Figgins
John Lackey
Jose Valverde
Marco Scutaro
Mike Gonzalez
Rafael Soriano
Matt Holliday
Billy Wagner
Jason Bay
Rafael Betancourt
Type B (13 players)
Justin Duchscherer
Rod Barajas
Joel Pineiro
Mark DeRosa
Adrian Beltre
Ivan Rodriguez
Marlon Byrd
Brian Shouse
Gregg Zaun
Jason Marquis
Brandon Lyon
Fernando Rodney
Carl Pavano
Regarding my predictions made yesterday, I guessed wrong on 12 of the 70 players. I was particularly surprised by Randy Wolf, Brian Shouse, and Jason Marquis. Which decisions surprised you?
All 70 of the arbitration decisions are noted in our 2010 MLB free agents list, which is constantly updated.
Giants Do Not Offer Arb To Any Free Agents
The Giants did not offer arbitration to any of their free agents – Type A catcher Bengie Molina and Type Bs Bob Howry, Randy Johnson, and Randy Winn. It's a mixed result for Molina – he's more attractive to other teams (the Mets, for example) now that he will not cost a draft pick, but if he'd been offered and accepted arbitration he probably would've maximized his 2010 salary.
Yankees Interested In Brandon Lyon
The Yankees have expressed interest in free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The writers note that the Yankees "likely will express interest in all of the top available late-inning relievers, if they haven't already." The duo says the Yankees have to sort through many different rotation scenarios before deciding whether to sign relievers.
Lyon, a Type B free agent, was offered arbitration by the Tigers today. They'll get a supplemental draft pick if Lyon signs elsewhere. The righty's goal is to ink a multiyear deal coming off a season in which he posted a 2.86 ERA in 78.6 innings.
Keep Track Of The Arbitration Offers
Having trouble keeping track of the arbitration offers? Our 2010 MLB free agents list is constantly updated with the latest and will be all night. Three teams' decisions remain; we'll sum it all up with a post at the end of the night.
Rays Acquire Kelly Shoppach
7:40pm: Topkin (via Twitter) reports that pitcher Jeff Bennett was designated for assignment to open up a spot for Shoppach on the 40-man roster. Bennett posted a 9.95 ERA in 11 relief appearances with Tampa Bay last season.
1:42pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times tweets that the Rays have acquired Shoppach for a player to be named later. The deal has been confirmed by an Indians press release, which notes that the PTBNL must be named by December 20th.
1:33pm: The Rays are closing in on a deal with the Indians for catcher Kelly Shoppach, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. Shoppach was a non-tender candidate for the Tribe after earning $1.95MM and slipping to .214/.335/.399 offensively. If the Rays do acquire Shoppach, you have to wonder if they'll non-tender Dioner Navarro.
Shoppach, 30 in April, would make for an interesting pickup for the Rays given his .261/.348/.517 line from '08.
Tigers Offer Arb To Rodney, Lyon, Not Polanco
5:13pm: GM Dave Dombrowski told Beck that he would be "very surprised" if Rodney or Lyon accepts arbitration.
1:16pm: The Tigers offered arbitration to Type B free agent relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon, but not Type A second baseman Placido Polanco, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck. These decisions fit with our predictions from yesterday.
The Tigers most likely want to go in a cheaper direction at second base, and Polanco benefits because his new team will not have to surrender a draft pick. I am guessing they do not expect Rodney or Lyon to accept the arbitration offers, but wouldn't mind if either one does.
Brewers Do Not Offer Arb To Any Free Agents
The Brewers chose not to offer arbitration to any of their free agents, tweets Tom Hauricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The Brewers had five Type Bs in Braden Looper, David Weathers, Felipe Lopez, Jason Kendall, and Mike Cameron. A case could've been made for Lopez, but GM Doug Melvin said earlier that they didn't have a spot for him.
Rangers Offer Arb To Marlon Byrd, Ivan Rodriguez
The Rangers offered arbitration to Type B free agents Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Byrd was a lock, but Pudge comes as a surprise given the Rangers' catching depth.
Phillies Rumors: Pitching, Park, Eyre
MLB.com's Todd Zolecki spoke to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. today; here's the latest.
- Amaro would like to add starting pitching depth, perhaps a player "who may not be on anybody's radar screen." He's looking for low-risk, high-reward (who isn't?) Amaro didn't deny Jayson Stark's John Smoltz rumor, but he downplayed it a bit.
- Scott Lauber of The News Journal says the Phils haven't ruled out re-signing Pedro Martinez, but Amaro hasn't had any recent discussions with Pedro's agent.
- Amaro said it's unlikely the Phillies will offer arbitration to Type B relievers Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre tonight. Amaro prefers the flexibility, but won't rule out re-signing them.
- Amaro would be willing to give up the team's #27 draft pick for the right Type A free agent. So, we can't rule out the various Type A relievers who were offered arbitration today (Jose Valverde, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, and Rafael Betancourt so far).
Braves Offer Arb To Soriano, Gonzalez, Not LaRoche, Anderson
The Braves' arbitration decisions are in, thanks to a tweet from David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constituation. They've offered arbitration to Type A relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, but not to Type B first baseman Adam LaRoche or Type B outfielder Garret Anderson.
We predicted these correctly, but the LaRoche decision still gives pause. He hit a solid .278/.357/.487 on the season, but the Braves apparently did not want to be locked into a salary north of $7MM for 2010.
The price of Soriano and Gonzalez goes up for other teams; each will now cost a draft pick to sign.