Rumors for arbitration
Red Sox Avoid Arbitration with Daniel Bard
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The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration with Daniel Bard according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Bard’s signing leaves just David Ortiz, Andrew Bailey, and Alfredo Aceves as the remaining arbitration-eligible players of the Red Sox. Bard is going to try to earn a role in the starting rotation after having been the setup man in the Boston bullpen this past season.
Bard, 26, went 2-9 with a 3.33 ERA in 70 appearances this past season.
Image taken By Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.
Nationals and Michael Morse agree to deal
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The Washington Nationals and Mike Morse have agreed to a two-year deal worth $10.5mm, the Associated Press reports. The deal will buy out the final two years of arbitration for Morse.
Morse who had a break out year last season, can play first base and the outfield. He hit .303 with 31 homers and 95 RBIs, and lead the Nationals in each category.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Hunter Pence wins his arbitration case
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According to Jon Heyman of SI.com Hunter Pence has defeated the Astros in his arbitration hearing and will make $6.9mm this coming season. Pence had asked for $6.9 million while the Astros countered with a $5.15 million. Pence made $3.5 million in 2010.
With Pence’s case now finished, it marks the end of the arbitration cases. Only two other cases went the distance to arbitration, Jered Weaver (lost his arbitration case with the Angels) and Ross Ohlendorf (won his arbitration case with the Pirates).
Check out the PRO Rumors arbitration tracker for all of the results.
Hunter Pence and Astros go to arbitration
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In the final arbitration case of the season, the Houston Astros and outfielder Hunter Pence have gone in front of an arbitrator, according to the Associated Press. Pence asked for $6.9 million while the Astros countered with a $5.15 million. Pence made $3.5 million in 2010.
The third case marks Major League Baseball’s lowest since the process started in 1974. Most of the 119 players that filed for arbitration settled with the exception of Jered Weaver (lost his arbitration case with the Angels) and Ross Ohlendorf (won his arbitration case with the Pirates).
A decision on Pence’s salary is expected Saturday.
In 2010, Pence hit .282 with 25 home runs and drove in 91 RBIs.
Blue Jays officially announce Jose Bautista’s deal
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According to the team’s official Twitter account, the Toronto Blue Jays have officially announced Jose Bautista’s deal via a press conference.
On Wednesday, Bautista and the Blue Jays agreed to a five-year, $64 million deal. Bautista will make $8 million in 2011 and $14 million in each of the following four seasons (via Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com). The team holds a club option of $14 million for 2016 (via team’s official Twitter account).
The deal will include contributions to Bautista’s charities in Canada and the Dominican Republic.
The 30-year-old MLB home run leader hit 54 home runs and drove in 124 RBIs while making only $2.4 million last season. The sides previously had a scheduled appearance before an arbitrator last Monday, but the hearing was postponed because of the negotiations. A deal would have had to have been done by this Friday as Friday was the deadline for all arbitration hearings to be completed.
Diamondbacks avoid arbitration with Kelly Johnson
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According to Shaun Rachau, the Vice President of Communications for the Diamondbacks, the team has avoided arbitration with second baseman Kelly Johnson by agreeing to a one-year deal.
Johnson had an an arbitration hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 16, but both parties were talking with the hopes of avoiding the arbitration process.
Earlier this month, Diamondbacks GM, Kevin Tower said, “This case may be a little tougher. It’s a pretty tough case.” At the time the sides had not talked since the numbers were filed at the end of January.
The second baseman was seeking $6.5 million, while Arizona countered with $4.7 million. He made $2.35 million in 2010.
Johnson hit .284 with 26 home runs and 71 RBIs in his first season with the Diamondbacks in 2010.
Arizona and Johnson scheduled for arbitration on Wednesday
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ GM Kevin Towers confirmed to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that the team and Kelly Johnson have an arbitration hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 16. However, the two sides are talking today with the hopes of avoiding the arbitration process.
Earlier this month, Tower said, “This case may be a little tougher. It’s a pretty tough case.” At the time the sides had not talked since the numbers were filed at the end of January.
Johnson is seeking $6.5 million, while Arizona countered with $4.7 million. The infielder made $2.35 million in 2010.
Johnson hit .284 with 26 home runs and 71 RBIs in his first season with the Diamondbacks in 2010.
Orioles agree to a one-year deal with Jeremy Guthrie
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The Baltimore Orioles have avoided arbitration with right handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie by agreeing to a one-year deal according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
The deal is for $5.75 million guaranteed plus awards bonuses (via CAA Sports, Guthrie’s agency). The right hander made $3 million in 2010. He asked for $6.5 million, while the club countered with a $5 million offer when the two sides exchanged figures.
“I don’t look at it necessarily as a relief,” Guthrie said. “It’s a huge blessing of course to agree on a contract that guarantees me a lot of money to play a game I really enjoy playing. When you get to this point in your career, there’s an understanding of the arbitration process and you understand that it may end up in a hearing or it may not. You do your best to be prepared for either one of them. It’s not necessarily a relief. It’s just part of the process and the next step for me personally, and it’s a good step for us as an organization. Now, all the attention can be on spring training and us molding together as a new team.”
Guthrie was 11-14 with a 3.83 ERA and 119 SO in 209.1 innings and 34 starts with the Orioles in 2010.
Baltimore Orioles and Luke Scott avoid arbitration
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The Baltimore Orioles have avoided arbitration with left-handed hitter Luke Scott according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
Connolly adds that both parties agreed to a $6.4 million deal (plus an additional $350,000 in possible incentives). Scott was asking for $6.85 million and the Orioles countered with $5.7 million. Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reminds us that Scott made $4.05 million last year when he avoided arbitration.
Scott hit .284/.368/.535 with 72 RBI’s and 27 HR’s in 447 AB’s with the Orioles in 2010.
Rangers agree to two-year deal with Josh Hamilton
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The Texas Rangers have avoided arbitration with 2010 MVP Josh Hamilton by agreeing to a two-year deal according to Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that the deal is for $24 million – an average annual salary of $12 million per season, so it’s right on target with Hamilton’s arbitration requirements for 2011. However, given that he would have likely earned more in 2012 (maybe $13-15 million via arbitration), the deal favors Texas.
Hamilton will receive a $3 million signing bonus (payable in two installments of $1.5 million each), $7.25 million in 2011 and $13.75 million in 2012 according to Grant.
Last week, we learned that the Rangers were approaching Hamilton with a two-year deal, but it appeared he was going to an arbitration hearing.
Hamilton submitted $12 million while the Rangers submitted $8.7 million when salary figures were due a few weeks ago. The AL MVP’s new deal buys out his remaining arbitration-eligible years, and he’ll be eligible for free agency after the contract expires in the winter of 2012.
