2009 Super Two Players
This year, 16 of the arbitration-eligible players qualified as Super Twos. These players go to arbitration four times instead of the normal three. Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball has contributed the following table, and provides analysis and more detail here.
| Salary Arbitration 2009 – The Super Twos | |||||||||||||
|
Player
|
Pos
|
ST
|
Club
|
2008
|
Player Fig.
|
Club Fig.
|
Diff
|
Mid
|
+/- Mid
|
Date
|
Outcome
|
’09 Base Salary
|
Inc. from ’08 (%)
|
| Luke Scott |
OF
|
2.144
|
BAL
|
$430K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/20
|
$2.4M
|
458%
|
|
| Taylor Buchholz |
RP
|
2.140
|
CO
|
$399K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/20
|
$1.055M
|
164%
|
|
| Ricky Nolasco |
SP
|
2.142
|
FL
|
$390K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/20
|
$2.4M
|
515%
|
|
| Humberto Quintero |
C
|
2.141
|
HO
|
$405K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/19
|
$610K
|
51%
|
|
| Brian Bannister |
SP
|
2.158
|
KC
|
$421K
|
$2.025M
|
$1.45M
|
$575K
|
$1.7375M
|
$0
|
2/4
|
$1.7375M
|
313%
|
|
| Mike Napoli |
C
|
2.151
|
LAA
|
$401,500
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/19
|
$2M
|
398%
|
|
| Andre Ethier |
OF
|
2.153
|
LAD
|
$424,500
|
$3.75M
|
$2.65M
|
$1.1M
|
$3.2M
|
-$100K
|
2/17
|
$3.1M
|
630%
|
|
| Russell Martin |
C
|
2.150
|
LAD
|
$500K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/20
|
$3.9M
|
680%
|
|
| Angel Pagan |
OF
|
2.144
|
NYM
|
$425K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/20
|
$575K
|
35%
|
|
| * Melky Cabrera |
OF
|
2.148
|
NYY
|
$461,200
|
$1.7M
|
$1.2M
|
$500K
|
$1.45M
|
-$50K
|
1/20
|
$1.4M
|
204%
|
|
| Cole Hamels |
SP
|
2.143
|
PH
|
$500K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/19
|
$4.35M
|
770%
|
|
| Jack Taschner |
RP
|
2.146
|
SF
|
$400,500
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/20
|
$835K
|
108%
|
|
| Chris Duncan |
OF
|
2.144
|
SL
|
$439K
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/19
|
$825K
|
88%
|
|
| Willy Aybar |
3B
|
2.153
|
TB
|
$401,200
|
$1.05M
|
$900K
|
$150K
|
$975K
|
$0
|
2/18
|
$975K
|
143%
|
|
| Brandon League |
RP
|
2.145
|
TO
|
$400,300
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1/19
|
$640K
|
60%
|
|
| Shawn Hill |
SP
|
2.153
|
WA
|
$402K
|
$775K
|
$500K
|
$275K
|
$637,500
|
$137,500
|
2/7
|
$775K
|
93%
|
|
Mariners Showed Interest In Fukudome?
According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune:
A major-league source said teams approached the Cubs about trading for Kosuke Fukudome, although only in trades where GM Jim Hendry would have had to take back bad contracts. The Mariners, shopping pitchers Jarrod Washburn and Erik Bedard and catcher Kenji Johjima, are believed to have been among them.
It seems that these conversations were in the offseason and are not active. Fukudome has $38MM coming for 2009-11. Johjima will receive $24MM over the same time period, while the pitchers are signed only for ’09.
Orlando Hudson Rumors: Thursday
Yesterday we learned from MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has ongoing talks for free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. Today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Dodgers appear to be the front-runner for Hudson. Signing him wouldn’t affect their chances of locking up Manny Ramirez. MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick says Colletti has also not ruled out relief help from guys like Joe Beimel, Dennys Reyes, or Jason Isringhausen.
Even as divisional rivals the D’Backs may be rooting for the Dodgers to sign Hudson, since they’d receive L.A.’s #17 pick in the June draft as part of the compensation. Rosenthal says the Royals and other unknown clubs remain in the mix for him, with the White Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, and Mets seemingly not seriously involved. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star discusses the Royals angle in a column today.
Braves Avoid Arb With Jeff Francoeur
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves avoided arbitration with outfielder Jeff Francoeur by signing him at $3.375MM for ’09. He can earn another $25K in incentives. The two parties settled at the midpoint of their submissions, though most expected Francoeur to lose his case after a dismal ’08. The deal marks the conclusion of Atlanta’s arbitration cases for ’09.
Griffey Chooses Mariners Over Braves
9:36pm: C. Trent Rosecrans of 1530 Homer talked to Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg, who confirmed the deal. It was a difficult decision for Griffey, who spoke to Willie Mays and Hank Aaron before deciding. MLB.com’s Jim Street has more on the Mays conversation.
8:55pm: Jerry Crasnick has a clarification on the financial details. Street’s numbers were just a bit off. Griffey can only earn $2.5MM in incentives — up to $4.5MM altogether.
8:14pm: Interesting tidbit from Mark Bowman:
Sources have indicated that Griffey’s tide turned shortly after he became upset with the fact that The Atlanta-Journal Constitution was reporting that he’d already decided to play for the Braves.
8:05pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street has some more information on the contract. It "includes a $2 million base salary and up to $4 million in incentives based on at-bats and attendance." The M’s are hoping he’ll draw an additional 200,000 fans to Safeco Field this season.
7:51pm: Geoff Baker has some of the financial details:
Ken Griffey Jr. is heading back to the Mariners on a one-year contract, reportedly for a base salary of roughly $2 million and incentive bonuses as well.
7:33pm: ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick has informed MLBTR that Griffey told the Braves of his decision less than an hour ago. He is indeed going to be a Mariner next season.
7:23pm: John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intellignecer has now confirmed it. Junior is headed back to Seattle.
7:19pm: WSB, an Atlanta-based television station, is reporting that the Ken Griffey Jr. has chosen the Mariners over the Braves.
3:10pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has a bit of info, suggesting Griffey is sensitive about offending the Mariners and their fans.
1:17pm: Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says Braves GM Frank Wren expects Griffey’s decision "pretty shortly." Bobby Cox said it could be today or tomorrow. Griffey’s apparently already passed a physical for both the Braves and Mariners.
1:01pm: The Braves hope for an update from Griffey later today, says Bowman.
11:19am: A WSB-TV (Atlanta) report indicates that Braves officials believe Griffey is leaning toward the Mariners.
9:58am: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an update. He believes Griffey has decided to sign with the Braves, and explains Chipper Jones‘ involvement in the process.
9:06am: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman does not believe Griffey has told the Braves his decision yet. It’s about time we wrap this thing up, in my opinion.
7:54am: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says Ken Griffey Jr. was to meet in the evening with the Braves and was expected to sign off on a deal. An announcement is expected today. Many reporters received similar indications yesterday, even with Griffey and his agent insisting nothing was decided.
Braves Make Progress On Chipper Jones Extension
7:03pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves are hoping to lock Jones up "until he has reached a stage in his career when he could be contemplating retirement." That could mean several years. As Chipper said Wednesday,
"I think I’m going to be as productive at 40 as I am now. You’re not going to be as spry in the legs as you were when you were 25, but you can still be productive."
3:17pm: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution fills us in on a possible Chipper Jones extension:
Chipper and the Braves have made some progress toward a multi-year extension. He said a deal isn’t imminent, still work to be done, but he sounded encouraged by the talks they’ve had so far.
Jones, 37 in April, is eligible for free agency after the season.
Esmailyn Gonzalez Falsified Identity
4:52pm: Stan Kasten talked about the situation, calling it an "elaborated, premeditated scheme no teenager concocted."
10:43am: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post has a few quotes from Rijo. He says the Nationals will have a conference call about the topic this afternoon.
8:32am: According to Melissa Segura of SI.com, Nationals shortstop prospect and 2006 signee Esmailyn Gonzalez falsified his identity and age. He’s actually named Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo, and he’s 23 rather than 19. The Nats had signed him for $1.4MM; the next highest bidder was the Rangers at $700K.
Lugo’s buscon, who brokered the deal for him, is a childhood friend of Nats exec Jose Rijo. Rijo and Nats GM Jim Bowden were under investigation last year in regard to the bonus skimming scandal.
Rays, Willy Aybar Agree To Multiyear Deal
3:01pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has the financial details of Aybar’s deal.
9:23am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Rays and infielder Willy Aybar avoided arbitration and agreed to a multiyear deal worth $2.6MM plus incentives.
Aybar’s likely deal has been known for a while now; it should be two years plus an option. I believe Aybar is a Super Two player, in which case the deal would not buy up all four of his arb years.
Thome Aims For Two More Seasons
According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox DH Jim Thome aims to play two more seasons. Thome’s $13MM option for ’09 vested last year. Thome ranks 14th on the all-time home run list with 541. He’s third among active players, with Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez ahead of him.
D’Backs Claim Bobby Korecky
MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier says the Diamondbacks claimed pitcher Bobby Korecky off waivers from the Twins today, a move that signifies the completion of Minnesota’s Luis Ayala signing.
Korcecky, 29, made his MLB debut in ’08 with 17.6 relief innings for the Twins. He did a nice job out of the pen in Triple A.