Friday, January 18, 2013
Big pre-arbitration deals
By Jason A. Churchill
Friday was a busy day for clubs and players to work out contracts to avoid arbitration, as dozens agreed to terms on one-year deals. Among the biggest names is National League MVP Buster Posey, who will earn $8 million in 2013. Look for the San Francisco Giants to work on a multi-year solution at some point fairly soon to avoid bloated salaries going forward, though Posey is about as worth it as player in the game right now.
Other worth mentioning include Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward ($3.65M) and right-hander Kris Medlen ($2.6M) , Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters ($5.5M), Detroit Tigers righty Doug Fister ($4M) and centerfielder Austin Jackson ($3.5M).
Left-hander Jason Vargas received $8.5 million from the Angels and the man he was swapped for last month, Kendrys Morales, will earn $5,25 million guaranteed from the Seattle Mariners.
The San Diego Padres and third baseman Chase Headley did not come to an agreement Friday. Instead, the two sides exchanged proposals and as it turns out they are more than $3 million apart.
Headley, tweets CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, requested $10.3 million versus the $7.075 million figure offered by the club. Headley's name has been mentioned in trade talks since July, but whether or not such a disparity between the two sides will play any kind of role in the long-term future of Headley in a Friars uniform is unclear.
If the two do not come to an agreement before the February hearing, Headley could price himself out of San Diego quickly. A salary even sniffing $10 million would serve as almost 20 percent of the team's entire payroll in 2012, and somewhere just south of that this coming season.
If Headley does hit the trade market, numerous clubs would jump into the mix, potentially including the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, both L.A. clubs, the Philadelphia Phillies and perhaps even the Atlanta Braves.
