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Salary Arbitration Nearing the End for 2011

By Rick Karcher, Michael McCann, Geoffrey Rapp, Greg Skidmore, and Howard Wasserman

With the Hunter Pence-Astros hearing set for today, the last day for hearings, and the two recent multiyear deals signed by Rickie Weeks and Jose Bautista, the 2011 arbitration season is nearly over. Thirty-four teams and players exchanged figures according to my research. (See my earlier post regarding including Santiago Casilla). Thirty-one settled with their teams and avoided hearings. I already posted a discussion of the other two hearings involving Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates (he won) and Jered Weaver of the Angels (he lost). The thirty-one settlements before hearings are the fewest since 2004 when there were twenty. According to my research, there were nine multiyear deals, seven settlements above the midpoint, four settlements at the midpoint, and eleven settlements below the midpoint. Here is my list of players in each category:

Multiyear deals (9) - Jose Bautista (Blue Jays), Billy Butler (Royals), Johnny Cueto (Reds), R. A. Dickey (Mets), Josh Hamilton (Rangers), Jason Hammel (Rockies), Carlos Marmol (Cubs), Wandy Rodriguez (Astros), and Rickie Weeks (Brewers)

Above the midpoint (7) - Craig Breslow (A?s), Jason Frasor (Blue Jays), Kelly Johnson (Diamondbacks), Miguel Montero (Diamondbacks), Mike Napoli (Rangers), Darren O?Day (Rangers), and Luke Scott (Orioles)

At the midpoint (4) - Jeremy Guthrie (Orioles), Francisco Liriano (Twins), Kevin Slowey (Twins), and Andres Torres (Giants)

Below the midpoint (11) - Santiago Casilla (Giants), Frank Francisco (Rangers), Hong-Chih Kuo (Dodgers), Kameron Loe (Brewers), James Loney (Dodgers), Javier Lopez (Giants), Shaun Marcum (Brewers), Angel Pagan (Mets), Ian Stewart (Rockies), Edison Volquez (Reds), and Delmon Young (Twins)

I will post something more about the Pence hearing.

Full post as published by Sports Law Blog on February 18, 2011 (boomark / email).