Arbitration Day

by
December 1, 2008

The deadline to offer arbitration is midnight tonight. There are lots of stories floating around today about whether so-and-so will be offered arbitration. Many of them conclude with some variation of “worse case scenario, Player X accepts, and Club Y has the services of a good player at a manageable price without the risk or pressure of a long term deal.”

Given the economic environment in which we find ourselves, and given how many scare-stories have been written forecasting doom for the freee agent market, I have this feeling that way more free agents will accept arbitration than is usually the case.

Which may not be a bad thing. After all, if Player X accepts, and Club Y has the services of a good player at a manageable price without the risk or pressure of a long term deal.

UPDATE: Pinto beat me to it by more than three hours.


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Jason @ IIATMS
15 years ago

Wonder if Maddux accepts arb again?

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Zach Sanders
15 years ago

This day marks the true beginning of the free agent season!

I don’t know why any team would choose to not offer a player arb. Like you said, worst case is you get a player for a year at a price somewhat fitting of their skill level.

-Zach Sanders
http://www.mlbnotebook.com

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Alex K
15 years ago

But sometimes you can get a player that was TERRIBLE last year (and maybe still declining) since the Type (A, B) FA they are is not all about the last year. For examples see Howry, Bobby

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Owen
15 years ago

Zach, tell that to the Dodgers. Their no-offer list is like a snake shedding its skin. Furcal was a surprise, but do you really think you could get anything like a good arb price for Jeff Kent or Chan Ho Park?

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