Around the Majors: Clemens arbitration record

1) Astros P Roger Clemens set a record with a $22 million arbitration request, breaking the previous mark of $18.5 million, by Derek Jeter, in 2001.

The Astros countered with $13.5 million. Clemens still hasn’t decided whether he’s retiring or not.

2) The Dodgers re-signed P Eric Gagne to a 2 year, $19 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 1.97 ERA/16 RSAA and 1.20 ERA/26 RSAA seasons, Gagne had a 2.19 ERA/18 RSAA in 70 games. He has a 3.29 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.37, and 44 RSAA in 282 games.

3) The Marlins re-signed P Josh Beckett to a 1 year, $2.4 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 4.10 ERA/-1 RSAA and 3.04 ERA/15 RSAA seasons, Beckett had a 3.79 ERA/5 RSAA in 26 starts. He has a 3.49 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.26, and 26 RSAA in 77 games.

4) According to the Washington Post, the Nationals are close to signing free agents Ps Esteban Loaiza and Antonio Osuna.

5) The Nationals re-signed P Tomo Ohka to a 1 year, $2.75 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 3.18 ERA/21 RSAA and 4.16 ERA/21 RSAA seasons, Ohka had a 3.40 ERA/6 RSAA in 15 starts. He has a 3.92 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.34, and 49 RSAA in 124 games.

6) The Redsox re-signed 2B Mark Bellhorn ($2.75 million) and P Bronson Arroyo ($1.85 million) to 1 year contracts, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 25 RCAA/.886 OPS and -12 RCAA/.646 OPS seasons, Bellhorn hit .444 SLG, .373 OBA, .817 OPS, 10 RCAA in 138 games. He has a .767 career OPS, compared to his league average of .769, and 6 RCAA in 509 games.

After pitching in just 15 games in 2002-03, Arroyo had a 4.03 ERA/18 RSAA in 29 starts (32 games). He has a 4.63 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.53, and 2 RSAA in 91 games.

7) The Mets signed free agent P Roberto Hernandez to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After 4.33 ERA/5 RSAA and 4.35 ERA/-1 RSAA seasons, Hernandez had a 4.76 ERA/-3 RSAA in 63 games with the Phillies. He has a 3.39 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.55, and 113 RSAA in 825 games.

8) The Pirates re-signed RF-1B Craig Wilson ($3 million) and P Josh Fogg ($2.15 million) to 1 year contracts, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 1 RCAA/.798 OPS and 12 RCAA/.872 OPS seasons, Wilson hit .499 SLG, .354 OBA, .853 OPS, 19 RCAA in 155 games. He has a .857 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and 45 RCAA in 490 games.

After 4.35 ERA/0 RSAA and 5.26 ERA/-16 RSAA seasons, Fogg had a 4.64 ERA/-10 RSAA in 32 starts. He has a 4.64 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.24, and -22 RSAA in 102 games.

9) The Orioles re-signed 2B-OF Jerry Hairston Jr. ($1.8 million) and Ps Rodrigo Lopez ($2.375 million) and B.J. Ryan ($2.6 million) to 1 year contracts, to avoid salary arbitration.

After -4 RCAA/.705 OPS and -2 RCAA/.725 OPS seasons, Hairston hit .397 SLG, .378 OBA, .775 OPS, 2 RCAA in 86 games. He has a .705 career OPS, compared to his league average of .769, and -35 RCAA in 530 games.

After 3.57 ERA/18 RSAA and 5.82 ERA/-25 RSAA seasons, Lopez had a 3.59 ERA/23 RSAA in 23 starts (37 games). He has a 4.42 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.55, and 4 RSAA in 102 games.

After 4.68 ERA/-2 RSAA and 3.40 ERA/5 RSAA seasons, Ryan had a 2.28 ERA/25 RSAA in 76 games. He has a 3.79 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.61, and 26 RSAA in 336 games.

10) The Indians signed free agent INF Alex Cora to a 2 year, $2.7 million contract.

After 11 RCAA/.805 OPS and -21 RCAA/.625 OPS seasons, Cora hit .380 SLG, .364 OBA, .745 OPS, -4 RCAA in 138 games. He has a .666 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778, and -66 RCAA in 684 games. Cora was a starter for the past 5 years with the Dodgers (first 3 as SS, last 2 as 2B) and is expected to be used as a utilityman.

11) The Padres re-signed 3B Sean Burroughs to a 1 year, $1.675 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After starting his career with -6 RCAA/.640 OPS and 5 RCAA/.755 OPS seasons, Burroughs hit .365 SLG, .348 OBA, .713 OPS, -1 RCAA in 130 games. He has a .719 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and -2 RCAA in 339 games.

12) The Mariners re-signed P Ron Villone to a 2 year, $4.2 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration. Villone had been a free agent who was retained by the team when he accepted their offer of salary arbitration.

After 5.81 ERA/-15 RSAA and 4.13 ERA/4 RSAA seasons, Villone had a 4.08 ERA/2 RSAA in 56 games (10 starts). He has a 4.80 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.48, and -21 RSAA in 394 games.

13) The Rangers re-signed OF Gary Matthews Jr.to a 1 year, $1.1 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 7 RCAA/.780 OPS and -11 RCAA/.675 OPS seasons, Matthews hit .461 SLG, .350 OBA, .811 OPS, 4 RCAA in 87 games. He has a .714 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and -26 RCAA in 597 games.

14) The Cardinals re-signed P Rick Ankiel to a 1 year, $400,000 contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

Ankiel has a 3.90 ERA/19 RSAA in 51 career games, including a 5.40 ERA/-1 RSAA in 5 games in 2004.

15) The Diamondbacks re-signed P Brandon Lyon to a 1 year, $330,000 contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

Lyon, who missed the entire 2004 season, has a 4.99 ERA/-6 RSAA in 75 career games.

16) The Phillies re-signed 2B Placido Polanco ($4.6 million), SS Jimmy Rollins ($3.85 million) and P Vicente Padilla ($3.2 million) contracts, to avoid salary arbitration.

Polanco was a free agent who was retained by the team when he accepted their offer of salary arbitration. After being the starting 2B, he is now expected to move to a utility role, with Chase Utley taking his starting job. After -3 RCAA/.733 OPS and 8 RCAA/.799 OPS seasons, Polanco hit .441 SLG, .345 OBA, .786 OPS, 0 RCAA in 126 games. He has a .748 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and -31 RCAA in 790 games.

After -15 RCAA/.686 OPS and -12 RCAA/.707 OPS seasons, Rollins hit .455 SLG, .348 OBA, .803 OPS, 14 RCAA in 154 games. He has a .735 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and -13 RCAA in 636 games.

After 3.28 ERA/11 RSAA and 3.62 ERA/10 RSAA seasons, Padilla had a 4.53 ERA/-3 RSAA in 20 starts. He has a 3.77 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.28, and 21 RSAA in 167 games.

17) The Mariners signed free agent INF Ricky Gutierrez to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After -14 RCAA/.671 OPS and -2 RCAA/.629 OPS seasons, Gutierrez had a .243 SLG, .277 OBA, .520 OPS, -11 RCAA in 45 games with the Mets and Redsox. He has a .689 career OPS, compared to his league average of .771, and -106 RCAA in 1119 games.

18) The Angels re-signed C Jose Molina ($725,000) and Ps Jarrod Washburn ($6.5 million) and Scot Shields ($925,000) to 1 year contracts, to avoid salary arbitration.

After -5 RCAA/.626 OPS and -12 RCAA/.429 OPS seasons, Molina had a .374 SLG, .296 OBA, .670 OPS, -10 RCAA in 73 games. He has a .615 career OPS, compared to his league average of .767, and -29 RCAA in 180 games.

After 3.15 ERA/27 RSAA and 4.43 ERA/-5 RSAA seasons, Washburn had a 4.64 ERA/-1 RSAA in 25 starts. He has a 4.07 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.59, and 52 RSAA in 164 games.

After 2.20 ERA/11 RSAA and 2.85 ERA/22 RSAA seasons, Shields had a 3.33 ERA/15 RSAA in 60 games. He has a 2.81 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.55, and 54 RSAA in 141 games.

19) The Orioles signed INF Enrique Wilson, OF Midre Cummings, C Keith McDonald and P Jay Witasick to minor league contracts, with invitations to spring training.

Wilson has -86 RCAA/.640 OPS in 540 career games, including a .325 SLG, .254 OBA, .579 OPS, -18 RCAA in 93 games with the 2004 Yankees. Cummings has -30 RCAA/.704 OPS in 458 career games, including a .463 SLG, .361 OBA, .824 OPS, 3 RCAA in 22 games with the 2004 Devil Rays. McDonald was 3 for 7, with 3 HR and 5 RCAA, in 8 games with the 2000-01 Cardinals. Witasick has a 4.72 ERA/-18 RSAA in 289 career games, including a 3.21 ERA/5 RSAA in 44 games with the 2004 Padres.

20) The Royals signed free agent INF Denny Hocking to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After -10 RCAA/.633 OPS and -10 RCAA/.653 OPS seasons, Hocking had a .223 SLG, .257 OBA, .481 OPS, -15 RCAA in 55 games with the Rockies. He has a .654 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -124 RCAA in 931 games.

21) The Cubs re-signed CF Corey Patterson (1 year, $2.8 million), C Michael Barrett (3 years, $12 million) and P Kyle Farnsworth (1 year, $1.975 million), to avoid salary arbitration and signed free agent P Scott Williamson to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After -18 RCAA/.676 OPS and 8 RCAA/.839 OPS seasons, Patterson hit .452 SLG, .320 OBA, .771 OPS, -8 RCAA in 157 games. He has a .734 career OPS, compared to his league average of .772, and -29 RCAA in 463 games.

After -7 RCAA/.749 OPS and -19 RCAA/.678 OPS seasons, Barrett hit .489 SLG, .337 OBA, .826 OPS, -2 RCAA in 134 games. He has a .724 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781, and -93 RCAA in 676 games.

After 7.33 ERA/-17 RSAA and 3.30 ERA/8 RSAA seasons, Farnsworth had a 4.73 ERA/-1 RSAA in 72 games. He has a 4.78 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.42, and -19 RSAA in 343 games.

After 6.20 ERA/-3 RSAA and 4.16 ERA/2 RSAA seasons, Williamson had a 1.26 ERA/12 RSAA in 28 games with the Redsox. He has a 2.98 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.47, and 70 RSAA in 269 games.

22) The Devil Rays designated C Pete LaForest for assignment.

LaForest had -6 RCAA/.404 OPS in 19 games in 2003.

23) The A’s re-signed OF Bobby Kielty ($875,000) and P Octavio Dotel ($4.75 million) to 1 year contracts, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 22 RCAA/.890 OPS and -1 RCAA/.758 OPS seasons, Kielty hit .370 SLG, .321 OBA, .691 OPS, -8 RCAA in 83 games. He has a .772 career OPS, compared to his league average of .764, and 10 RCAA in 369 games.

After 1.85 ERA/27 RSAA and 2.48 ERA/19 RSAA seasons, Dotel had a 3.69 ERA/8 RSAA in 77 games (first 32 with the Astros). He has a 3.63 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.42, and 60 RSAA in 366 games.

24) The Yokohama BayStars signed P Mike Holtz to a 1 year contract.

Holtz, who’s been in the minors for the past 2 years, has a 4.68 ERA/1 RSAA in 350 career games.

25) The Giants re-signed C Yorvit Torrealba to a 1 year contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After -3 RCAA/.752 OPS and -5 RCAA/.702 OPS seasons, Torrealba had a .407 SLG, .302 OBA, .709 OPS, -9 RCAA in 64 games. He has a .724 career OPS, compared to his league average of .772, and -15 RCAA in 186 games.

26) The Padres signed C Michel Hernandez and Ps Danny Patterson, Joe Dawley and Brian Falkenborg to minor league contracts, with invitations to spring training.

Hernandez was 1 for 4, with a BB and -1 RCAA, in 5 games with the 2003 Yankees. Patterson has a 4.14 ERA/25 RSAA in 350 career games, including a 4.75 ERA/-1 RSAA in 37 games with the 2004 Tigers. Dawley has a 10.91 ERA/-12 RSAA in 8 career games, including a 5.40 ERA/-1 RSAA in 2 starts with the 2004 Indians. Falkenborg has a 6.23 ERA/-3 RSAA in 8 career games, including a 7.53 ERA/-5 RSAA in 6 games with the 2004 Dodgers.

27) The Whitesox re-signed P Luis Vizcaino to a 1 year, $1.3 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 2.99 ERA/9 RSAA and 6.39 ERA/-14 RSAA seasons, Vizcaino had a 3.75 ERA/5 RSAA in 73 games with the Brewers. He was acquired in a trade earlier in the offseason and has a 4.52 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.32, and -7 RSAA in 273 games.

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