Filing for MLB arbitration begins Jan. 5 and officially starts the process of determining how much certain players are going to earn in 2008. Arbitration can cause relationships between players and teams to go south, especially if the player is a special athlete who knows he deserves more money and a multi-year contract.
Most teams will try to avoid arbitration with star player's and lock them up with a guaranteed contract; of course, things don't always work out that way.
UPDATE! compiled some of the biggest names currently headed towards arbitration with a scoop on their out-look heading into this season:
Comment: Bedard's name has come up time and time again this off-season in trade rumors, but if the Orioles are smart, they'll hang on to this gifted south-paw. Bedard is arbitration eligible for the next two years, meaning he will be a steal money-wise for Baltimore. Sure, he'll be a free agent in 2010, but for now, they can sit and wait on dealing their ace.
Comment: After giving Dontrelle Willis a three-year guaranteed contract, the Tigers are hoping to do something similar for Miguel Cabrera. So far no contract has been inked, but since he's arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, they can afford to wait giving him a deal. Not that he doesn't deserve it, Cabrera is a bona fide stud, who should give the Tigers plenty of reasons to sign him to a real deal after 2008 if a contract doesn't get done prior to his arbitration hearing.
Comment: Hudson enters the arbitration process looking for a new multi-year deal to keep him in Arizona (he'll be a free agent after this season). But despite his love for everything about the club, the Diamondbacks are going to make a decision as to whether or not to keep Hudson around following his performance this season. Arizona is loaded with young, hungry players, so even if Hudson has a brilliant season, he still may be on the way out.
Comment: Phillips is arbitration eligible until 2011 (when he becomes a free-agent), and after the incredible season he enjoyed, he may start flapping his gums about a multi-year contract. Making a scant $407,500.00 last season, Phillips displayed remarkable speed and power (30 HR and 32 SB). He's still just 26 years old and due for a nice raise in 2008 from arbitration, however, if the Reds are smart, they'll save themselves the trouble and lock him up with some guaranteed money.
Comment: Roberts should get a nice salary bump from arbitration this season, but he's likely to get traded before the July trade deadline. He's going to be a free-agent in 2009, and if Erik Bedard has his name mentioned in trade rumors, then Roberts might as well stamp his ticket out of Baltimore now. The switch-hitting speed-demon should have plenty of teams interested in his services, despite the Mitchell Report.
Comment: K-Rod is a free-agent following the 2008 season, so it's a bit surprising that no word has come out about the Angels even being interested in a long-term deal. He's going to be just 26 at the end of the season and you would figure that the Angels don't want him hitting the free-agent market at all. Perhaps they feel that Scot Shields or another player can possibly fill the closer's role, but that would be a big risk considering how money Rodriguez has been in his career.
Comment: As it stands now, Teixeira is due to become a free agent following the 2008 season. With Scott Boras representing him, that does not figure to change. He'll be turning 28 in April and will look to sign a fat multi-year contract (seven years perhaps?) with the highest bidder. Atlanta seems to like him a lot, but judging by their tight wallets this off-season, they'll probably bid adieu to Teixeira's bat following 2008.
Comment: The Red Sox are in quite the comfy situation with Youkilis. The Greek God of Walks won't be a free agent until 2011, every season until then he is arbitration-eligible, meaning no matter how much his salary increases, he'll probably still be below market value. Youkilis hasn't made any noise about a guaranteed contract, despite making just $424,500.00 in 2007. He should get a nice bump in salary in 2008, but if he goes through another terrific season being under-paid, he could start asking for some real dough.
Most teams will try to avoid arbitration with star player's and lock them up with a guaranteed contract; of course, things don't always work out that way.
UPDATE! compiled some of the biggest names currently headed towards arbitration with a scoop on their out-look heading into this season:
ERIK BEDARD
Baltimore Orioles, SPComment: Bedard's name has come up time and time again this off-season in trade rumors, but if the Orioles are smart, they'll hang on to this gifted south-paw. Bedard is arbitration eligible for the next two years, meaning he will be a steal money-wise for Baltimore. Sure, he'll be a free agent in 2010, but for now, they can sit and wait on dealing their ace.
MIGUEL CABRERA
Detroit Tigers, 3BComment: After giving Dontrelle Willis a three-year guaranteed contract, the Tigers are hoping to do something similar for Miguel Cabrera. So far no contract has been inked, but since he's arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, they can afford to wait giving him a deal. Not that he doesn't deserve it, Cabrera is a bona fide stud, who should give the Tigers plenty of reasons to sign him to a real deal after 2008 if a contract doesn't get done prior to his arbitration hearing.
ORLANDO HUDSON
Arizona Diamondbacks, 2BComment: Hudson enters the arbitration process looking for a new multi-year deal to keep him in Arizona (he'll be a free agent after this season). But despite his love for everything about the club, the Diamondbacks are going to make a decision as to whether or not to keep Hudson around following his performance this season. Arizona is loaded with young, hungry players, so even if Hudson has a brilliant season, he still may be on the way out.
BRANDON PHILLIPS
Cincinnati Reds, 2BComment: Phillips is arbitration eligible until 2011 (when he becomes a free-agent), and after the incredible season he enjoyed, he may start flapping his gums about a multi-year contract. Making a scant $407,500.00 last season, Phillips displayed remarkable speed and power (30 HR and 32 SB). He's still just 26 years old and due for a nice raise in 2008 from arbitration, however, if the Reds are smart, they'll save themselves the trouble and lock him up with some guaranteed money.
BRIAN ROBERTS
Baltimore Orioles, 2BComment: Roberts should get a nice salary bump from arbitration this season, but he's likely to get traded before the July trade deadline. He's going to be a free-agent in 2009, and if Erik Bedard has his name mentioned in trade rumors, then Roberts might as well stamp his ticket out of Baltimore now. The switch-hitting speed-demon should have plenty of teams interested in his services, despite the Mitchell Report.
FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ
Los Angeles Angels, RPComment: K-Rod is a free-agent following the 2008 season, so it's a bit surprising that no word has come out about the Angels even being interested in a long-term deal. He's going to be just 26 at the end of the season and you would figure that the Angels don't want him hitting the free-agent market at all. Perhaps they feel that Scot Shields or another player can possibly fill the closer's role, but that would be a big risk considering how money Rodriguez has been in his career.
MARK TEIXEIRA
Atlanta Braves, 1BComment: As it stands now, Teixeira is due to become a free agent following the 2008 season. With Scott Boras representing him, that does not figure to change. He'll be turning 28 in April and will look to sign a fat multi-year contract (seven years perhaps?) with the highest bidder. Atlanta seems to like him a lot, but judging by their tight wallets this off-season, they'll probably bid adieu to Teixeira's bat following 2008.
KEVIN YOUKILIS
Boston Red Sox, 1BComment: The Red Sox are in quite the comfy situation with Youkilis. The Greek God of Walks won't be a free agent until 2011, every season until then he is arbitration-eligible, meaning no matter how much his salary increases, he'll probably still be below market value. Youkilis hasn't made any noise about a guaranteed contract, despite making just $424,500.00 in 2007. He should get a nice bump in salary in 2008, but if he goes through another terrific season being under-paid, he could start asking for some real dough.
