Arbitration Update

Salary arbitration is a trying time for players, agents and clubs' front office. December 1 is the last day for teams to offer their former players arbitration before they become free agents. Then, the players have a week (December 7) to accept or decline the team's offer. If they decline, they become free agents and may sign with any team.

If they accept, the player and team go back and forth negotiating arbitration figures until they come to an agreement. If an agreement can't be reached, the two sides will go to an arbitration hearing, in which they each plead their case in front of an unbiased panel of arbitrators who will decide how much the player will make. These hearings run from February 1-21. Here is how arbitration went this offseason.

Players with three years of service time are eligible for arbitration. There are some players who have played more than two, but less than three years, and are eligible - these players are known as "super twos".

Arbitration Cases won by team:

• 2/14/08 - The Washington Nationals defeated infielder Felipe Lopez. Lopez, who requested $5.2 million, will earn $4.9 million in 2008.
• 2/15/08 - The New York Yankees were victorious over ace starter Chien-Ming Wang. Wang will make $4 million in 2008, as opposed to the $4.6 million he asked for.
• 2/15/08 - The Colorado Rockies won their case against former closer Brian Fuentes. Instead of the $6.5 million Fuentes requested, he will earn $5.05 million.
• 2/15 and 2/19/08 - The Houston Astros won both of their arbitration cases. First, the defeated closer Jose Valverde, whom they acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December. Valverde will make $4.7 million instead of the $6.2 he had requested. Loretta will make $2.75 million, rather than the $4.9 requested.
• 2/22/08 - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (breath) defeated closer (and possible free agent-to-be) Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod will make "only" $10 million, instead of the $12.5 million he had requested.

Arbitration Cases Won by Player

• 2/20/08 - Ryan Howard has set the bar. He won his arbitration case against the Philadelphia Phillies and will make $10 million, instead of the $7 million offered by the club. Howard now holds the record for the biggest award won in arbitration. He was also paid the most for any first-time arbitration-eligible player, win or lose.
• 2/22/08 - The New York Mets went to an arbitration hearing for the first time since 1992. This time, pitcher Oliver Perez beat his club, and will earn $6.5 million, instead of the offered $4.725 million.

Arbitration figures agreed upon by player and team, prior to hearings:

• Wily Mo Pena (WAS) - 1 year, $4 million - 12/6/07
• Ryan Langerhans (WAS) - 1 year, $500,000 - 12/6/07
• Michael Barrett (SD) - 1 year, $3.5 million - 12/19/07
• Ben Broussard (TEX) - 1 year, $3.85 million - 1/5/08
• Chad Cordero (WAS) - 1 year, $6.2 million - 1/11/08
  
• George Sherrill (SEA - now with BAL) - 1 year, $980,000 - 1/15/08
• Adam LaRoche (PIT) - 1 year, $5 million - 1/15/08
• Dan Wheeler (TAM) - 1 year, $2.875 million - 1/15/08
• Nate Robertson (DET) - 3 year, $21.25 million - 1/16/08
• Claudio Vargas (MIL) - 1 year, $3.6 million - 1/16/08
• Juan Cruz (ARZ) - 1 year, $1,937,500 - 1/16/08
• Jonny Gomes (TAM) - 1 year, $1.25 million - 1/17/08
• Huston Street (OAK) - 1 year, $3.3 million - 1/17/08
• Scott Downs (TOR) - 3 year, $10 million - 1/17/08
• Gustavo Chacin (TOR) - 1 year, $725,000 - 1/17/08
• Jason Frasor (TOR) - 1 year, $1.125 million - 1/17/08
• Marco Scutaro (TOR) - 1 year, $2.65 million - 1/17/08
  
• Brian Tallet (TOR) - 1 year, $640,000 - 1/17/08
• Mike Gonzalez (ATL) - 1 year, $2.36 million - 1/17/08
• Omar Infante (ATL) - 1 year, $1.4 million - 1/17/08
• Mark Teixeira (ATL) - 1 year, $12.5 million - 1/17/08
• Tyler Yates (ATL) - 1 year, $800,000 - 1/17/08
• Joe Crede (CHW) - 1 year, $5.1 million - 1/17/08
• Jimmy Gobble (KC) - 1 year, $1,312,500 - 1/17/08
• Tim Redding (WAS) - 1 year, $1 million - 1/17/08
• Marcus Thames (DET) - 1 year, $1.275 million - 1/17/08
• Jose Bautista (PIT) - 1 year, $1.8 million - 1/17/08
• Chris Capuano (MIL) - 1 year, $3.75 million - 1/17/08
• Brad Lidge (PHI) - 1 year, $6.35 million - 1/17/08
• Ryan Madson (PHI) - 1 year, $1.4 million - 1/17/08
• Jason Kubel (MIN) - 1 year, $1.3 million - 1/17/08
• Justin Morneau (MIN) - 1 year, $7.4 million - 1/18/08
• Miguel Cabrera (DET) - 1 year, $11.3 million - 1/18/08
• Bobby Seay (DET) - 1 year, $780,000 - 1/18/08
• Matt Holliday (COL) - 2 year, $23 million - 1/18/08
• Willy Tavares (COL) - 1 year, $1.975 million - 1/18/08
• Rick Ankiel (STL) - 1 year, $900,000 - 1/18/08
• Scott Kazmir (TAM) - 1 year, $3.785 million - 1/18/08
• Maicer Izturis (LAA) - 1 year, $1.2 million - 1/18/08
  
• Casey Kotchman (LAA) - 1 year, $1.45 million - 1/18/08
• Aaron Heilman (NYM) - 1 year, $1.2 million - 1/18/08
• Joe Blanton (OAK) - 1 year, $3.7 million - 1/18/08
• Ty Wigginton (HOU) - 1 year, $4.35 million - 1/18/08
• Alfredo Amezaga (FLA) - 1 year, $845,000 - 1/18/08
• Kevin Gregg (FLA) - 1 year, $2.5 million - 1/18/08
  
• Sergio Mitre (FLA) - 1 year, $1.2 million - 1/18/08
• Horacio Ramirez (SEA) - 1 year, $2.75 million - 1/18/08
• Gerald Laird (TEX) - 1 year, $1.6 million - 1/18/08
• Javier Lopez (BOS) - 1 year, $840,000 - 1/18/08
• Wilfredo Ledezma (SD) - 1 year, $620,000 - 1/18/08
• John Grabow (PIT) - 1 year, $1.135 million - 1/18/08
  
• Xavier Nady (PIT) - 1 year, $3.25 million - 1/18/08
• Endy Chavez (NYM) - 2 year, $3.85 million - 1/22/08
  
• Rafael Soriano (ATL) - 2 year, $9 million - 1/24/08
• Kyle Snyder (BOS) - 1 year, $835,000 - 1/25/08
• Chad Gaudin (OAK) - 1 year, $1.775 million - 1/25/08
• Carlos Pena (TAM) - 3 year, $24.125 million - 1/25/08
• Matt Belisle (CIN) 1 year, $1.25 million - 1/31/08
• Joe Beimel (LAD) - 1 year, $1.925 million - 2/1/08
• Casey Blake (CLE) - 1 year, $6.1 million - 2/1/08
• Jorge Sosa (NYM) - 1 year, $2 million - 2/2/08
• Alex Rios (TOR) - 1 year, $4.835 million - 2/5/08
• Daniel Cabrera (BAL) - 1 year, $2.875 million - 2/7/08
• Ryan Church (NYM) - 1 year, $2 million - 2/7/08
• Zack Greinke (KC) - 1 year, $1.4 million - 2/7/08
• Mark Teahen (KC) - 1 year, $2,337,500 - 2/7/08
• Eric Bruntlett (PHI) - 1 year, $600,000 - 2/7/08
• Kevin Correia (SF) - 1 year, $1.075 million - 2/8/08
• Kevin Youkilis (BOS) - 1 year, $3 million - 2/11/08
• Garrett Atkins (COL) - 1 year, $4,387,500 - 2/11/08
  
• Takashi Saito (LAD) - 1 year, $2 million - 2/13/08
• Josh Bard (SD) - 1 year, $2,337,500 - 2/14/08
• Brad Hawpe (COL) - 1 year, $3.925 million - 2/14/08
• Erik Bedard (SEA) - 1 year, $7 million - 2/15/08
• J.J. Hardy (MIL) - 1 year, $2.65 million - 2/15/08