Dunn files for arbitration (1/13)

[TeamBoone]

Posted on Fri, Jan. 13, 2006

Willis, Soriano file for arbitration
MIKE FITZPATRICK / Associated Press

Dontrelle Willis, Mark Teixeira and Alfonso Soriano were among the 100 players who filed for salary arbitration on Friday, the often acrimonious negotiating process that rankles baseball management every winter.

Mark Prior, Josh Beckett, Brad Lidge, Adam Dunn, Morgan Ensberg, Brian Roberts and Scot Shields were some of the other stars who filed before Friday's deadline. Players will exchange proposed salaries with their teams on Tuesday.

Willis is one of the few established big leaguers left on the Florida Marlins, who have cut about $47 million in 2006 payroll after starting last season at $60 million.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, the charismatic left-hander should have a strong case after going 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA last season, when he made only $378,500. He led the majors in wins and was runner-up to St. Louis' Chris Carpenter for the NL Cy Young Award.

Teixeira, eligible for arbitration for the first time as well, is coming off a huge season for the Texas Rangers and also figures to get a hefty raise from the $3,675,000 he earned last year. The switch-hitting first baseman batted .301 with 43 homers and 144 RBIs.

Soriano was traded from Texas to Washington last month, and the Nationals would like to move the All-Star second baseman to a different position. He wants to stay at second.

After earning $7.5 million last year, Soriano is likely to make about $10 million this year. He can become a free agent after next season.

Tampa Bay first baseman Travis Lee became a free agent after last season and accepted arbitration, so he will be back with the Devil Rays. The other players in arbitration all have less than six years of major league service.
Many baseball owners dislike arbitration because it forces them to pay their players as much as comparable players on other teams.

Though 100 players are in arbitration, many are expected to agree to contracts before the scheduled swap of proposed salaries.

Relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino and the Diamondbacks avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1,775,000, one-year contract Friday before the union submitted the filings. Arizona and No. 1 starter Brandon Webb also agreed on a $19.5 million, four-year deal, locking up the sinkerball specialist through his arbitration years.

"I've worked with the pitching staff and the coaching staff and really honed in on what kind of pitcher I am," Webb said. "I just feel I can progress every year and get better."

Webb's contract includes an $8.5 million club option for 2010 with a $500,000 buyout.

"Brandon has certainly earned this contract," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "His three years thus far have been tremendous. He's really one of the more unheralded elite pitchers in baseball.

"This is the type of contract a club doesn't have to do," Byrnes said. "We had Brandon under control through arbitration for four more years, but it is something we wanted to do."

Byrnes, hired last October, said it's important to get long-term deals in place for a team's core players to give them security and the club some cost certainty.

"It really helps accelerate the decision-making process and the building process," Byrnes said.

Two pitchers got new deals after filing: Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook and Seattle reliever Julio Mateo. They were still on the arbitration list because their deals were pending physicals.

Cook got a $4.55 million, two-year contract on Friday with a club option for 2008. Mateo and the Mariners agreed Thursday to a $1,875,000, two-year deal.

Only three cases went to hearings last year, the fewest since arbitration began in 1974. Owners went 2-1 for their ninth straight winning record (Minnesota pitcher Kyle Lohse was the lone player to win) and lead players 265-198 overall.

Last year, players in arbitration averaged a 123 percent increase. Dunn got the steepest raise, from $445,000 to $4.6 million with Cincinnati.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...l/13623407.htm

[KronoRed]

I hope this doesn't turn ugly.

[SteelSD]

"This is the type of contract a club doesn't have to do," Byrnes said. "We had Brandon under control through arbitration for four more years, but it is something we wanted to do."

Something tells me that while Byrnes mouth was moving his brain was in uncontrollable belly-laugh spasms after getting Webb to somehow agree to pass up his arbitration years AND to a club option for what could be about half market value for a pitcher of his caliber in 2010.

What a ridiculously good deal for the D-Backs. Lord.

[RFS62]

If Adam sits in on an arbitration hearing with our side ragging on his strikeouts and sac flies, that should be the final nail in the coffin of his wanting out of town as soon as he's a free agent.

Sign him long term and avoid this ugliness.

[Raisor]

If Adam sits in on an arbitration hearing with our side ragging on his strikeouts and sac flies, that should be the final nail in the coffin of his wanting out of town as soon as he's a free agent.

Sign him long term and avoid this ugliness.

The Reds might hire a former Redszone member to do their dirty work.

Just sayin.

[RFS62]

The Reds might hire a former Redszone member to do their dirty work.

Just sayin.

Mmmmmm, doughnuts.

[KronoRed]

Dunn: I want 10 mill a year.
Reds: WHOA! 10million?!? You're not worth that! **puts in a tape of Rich Aurilia grounding out to SS and Tony Womack running REALLY fast on a bunting K down the 3rd base line**

Reds: Now, start doing those type of little things and we'll talk.

Arbitrator:

[RollyInRaleigh]

I wish that O'Brien was already gone and out of these negotiations. This could be the most damage that he can do to the franchise. I hope Dunn hasn't already made up his mind that he is going to leave Cincinnati and has some hope that a new regime may be better for him and the team. Mr. Castellini has his work cut out for him, and the sooner he steps in and gets his hands dirty, the better, in my opinion. My mother always said, "A new broom sweeps clean."

[Ravenlord]

so is this what O'Brien had in mind when he said signing Dunn was a priority after the New Year?

[KronoRed]

so is this what O'Brien had in mind when he said signing Dunn was a priority after the New Year?

I'm sure he made some sort of an offer, a bad one most likely.

[dougflynn23]

If Adam sits in on an arbitration hearing with our side ragging on his strikeouts and sac flies, that should be the final nail in the coffin of his wanting out of town as soon as he's a free agent.

Sign him long term and avoid this ugliness.

I would have a feeling that the Reds will make it a priority to not go nuclear on Dunn in his arbitration case. I think the Reds expect Dunn to make $8M in arbitration and have budgeted accordingly. I'd like to see Dunn locked up longer, but I have heard that some in the Reds F/O feel that Dunn might be that rare player whom arbitration is better for as there is a concern that he's not the most dilligent off season workout guy in the world and the arbitration process might keep him more motivated. Don't know if I agree with that!

[Matt700wlw]

This could have been avoided...

[RFS62]

I would have a feeling that the Reds will make it a priority to not go nuclear on Dunn in his arbitration case. I think the Reds expect Dunn to make $8M in arbitration and have budgeted accordingly. I'd like to see Dunn locked up longer, but I have heard that some in the Reds F/O feel that Dunn might be that rare player whom arbitration is better for as there is a concern that he's not the most dilligent off season workout guy in the world and the arbitration process might keep him more motivated. Don't know if I agree with that!

Even Casey, back when Jimbo was courting him, was stunned at the animosity in the arbitration process. It's just the nature of the beast. Most players are advised not to sit in, it's so hard to listen to the team who says they want you to be picking apart every flaw in your game, for sake of the negotiation.

[pedro]

It's a formality. This close to a change in ownership I doubt DanO has the authority to sign anyone to a large contract, and Dunn obviously has to protect his rights by filing. I'd be surprised if this drags out to an actual hearing.

[RFS62]

It's a formality. This close to a change in ownership I doubt DanO has the authority to sign anyone to a large contract, and Dunn obviously has to protect his rights by filing. I'd be surprised if this drags out to an actual hearing.

Yeah, I think you're right about DanO, although he did say all that stuff about our "top priority" to sign Dunn. That kind of announcement would be a nice way to kick off the new administration.