The arbitration process for young veteran players (those under six years of experience) is tricky for all involved. The actual process of arbitration is ugly - it's a player you want to keep, but the argument process brings up ugly issues that creates bad blood. It's why there was a flurry of activity on Tuesday throughout baseball with players and teams agreeing to one-year contracts in which the teams and players come to a compromise before even exchanging salary figures.
The Cleveland Indians hate arbitration so much, they haven't used it since 1991. And Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has a perfect record when it comes to arbitration: 0-0.
So while two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum asked for an arbitration-record $13 million from the Giants - $5 million less than the team offered - Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon never got to that point, agreeing to a "bargain" $9.3 million, the biggest deal ever for a closer after his fourth season.
Why is it a bargain? He'll make less than Francisco Cordero, Brad Lidge, Francisco Rodriguez, Joe Nathan and Kerry Wood. Papelbon, statistically has been better than all of them. He's a four-time All-Star with a 1.84 career ERA, 151 saves in four seasons and a postseason reputation that was spotless until the final game of the Division Series against the Angels last October.
So why haven't the Red Sox and Papelbon been able to agree on a longer-term deal? Papelbon seems content to prove himself year after year, pitching with a chip on his shoulder but risking major injury. And the Red Sox, mindful of a flame-out, are playing along.
And there's another variable, too, in the team's favor. The Red Sox are developing Daniel Bard into a closer, and he was solid in middle relief as a rookie in 2009. He throws just as hard as Papelbon, and is the insurance policy.
It's a high-stakes game that both Papelbon and the Red Sox are taking, and one that really won't come to a head for two more years, when Papelbon is eligible for free agency. And it's Papelbon with the most risk. If he gets hurt, or takes a step back, he's the one with a lot more to lose.
Comments