The Great Arbitration Thread of 2009-2010

[lou]

We're basically past the trade deadline, as I doubt any of our arbitration players go during the waiver period, so we pretty much know what we have going into next year. At this point, stats are pretty locked in and it'll take a really abysmal/amazing performance to get them drastically off their season averages and seriously effect an expected arbitration total.

SHORT ANSWER

Arbitration estimates for the 2010 season
Dan Uggla - $7.75 million
Jorge Cantu - $6 million
Josh Johnson - $5.8 million / but I project a 4-5 year contract at at least $11 mil per season
Ricky Nolasco - $4.25 million
Cody Ross - $4.2 million
Jeremy Hermida - $3 million
Leo Nunez - $2 million
Matt Lindstrom - $1.65 million
Alfredo Amezaga - $1.4 million
Anibal Sanchez - $1.2 million
Scott Proctor - $1.2 million RELEASED
Ronny Paulino - $880,000 thousand
Reynel Pinto - $850,000 thousand
--
Expected Club Controlled Figures (tendering 2-3 year players slightly higher)
Andrew Miller - $2 million (not arbitration, see post # 17)
John Baker - $415,000
Emilio Bonifacio - $415,000
Brett Carroll - $415,00
Chris Volstad - $415,000
Dan Meyer - $415,000
Rick Vanden Hurk - $415,000
Brian Sanchez - $415,000
Burke Badenhop - $415,000
Sean West - $405,000
Gaby Sanchez - $405,000
Cameron Maybin - $405,000
Other Rookies with relatively no experience - $405,000
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Players Under Contract
Hanley Ramirez - $7,000,000
Wes Helms - $950,000
--
Club Options
Ross Gload - $2,600,000 (no buyout)
--
Free Agents
Nick Johnson
Kiko Calero
Luis Ayala
Brendan Donnelly


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Jorge Cantu (Current 5th year salary - $3.5 million)

2008 - 155 G, 628 AB, 92 R, 28 HR, 95 RBI, .277/.327/.481 (.808)
2009 - 98 G, 389 AB, 40 R, 11 HR, 60 RBI, .282/.345/.445 (.785) (Aug. 6)
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - 152 G, 600 AB, 70 R, 18 HR, 90 RBI, .280/.340/.460 (.800)

Comparables

Joe Crede (5th year salary $4.94 M, 6th year $5.1 M). Came off injury from 07-08 so he got a nominal upgrade. He had a .828 OPS in year 4, which warranted him getting up to the $5 million range in year 5.

Casey Blake (5th year $3.75, 6th year $6.1). Blake had a .777 OPS in year 5, which lead to that salary in year 6. Cantu is going to match Blake’s year in a worst case scenario, probably get over it. This

Chad Tracy is making $5.75 this year (including buyout). He just sucks.

Bill Hall is going to make $6.8. But he also has the added positional flexibility, making him a ‘maybe’ comp, but we don’t have much to look for.

Longoria is going to make $6 million, in year 6. Wow. Zimmerman $8.9. Wright $10.

Some 1B for food for though. A. Gonzalez $5.5, Laroche and Overbay each $7, Pena $8. Youk $9. Morneau $10.6. Just not good comps here.

Alright, so that’s a good baseline. Crede did nothing in 2007, and got over $5. Blake did OK, and got over $6. Blake also had a $2.25M jump which is 60% of his previous contract value. The Tracy comp sucks for the Marlins. Cantu has to go above him based on his last two year, and immediate year, performance. So does he get to Blake? Depending on where his season line this year ends will dictate that question. The combination of not always at 3B may slot him a little higher as it seems 1B make more than 3B (or maybe they are just better, which is likely), but Cantu’s horrific defense could be a tie breaker and slot it down.

Low - $5.75. He gets Tracy’d.
Medium - $6.25. Over Blake. He is statistically better than him with more HR/RBI, and his lack of playing time in 2007 and defense don’t really hurt him.
High - $7. Atkins. He really, really, pounds the ball the last 50 games and gets to the .830 OPS/28 HR/100RBI level, and doesn’t commit to many of the mystical “errors.”
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Josh Johnson (Current 4th year salary - $1.4 million)
2008 - 87.1 IP, 7-1, CG, 3.61 era, 77 K, 1.35 whip
2009 - 148 IP, 10-2, 2 CG, 2.98 era, 123 K, 1.11 whip (as of Aug 6th)
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - 220 IP, 15-4, 3.25 era, 185k, 1.15 whip

We have such an amazing comp it’s not even funny. I know I have done this before, but just for keeping it in one spot.

Zack Greinke
2007 - 122 IP, 7-7, 3.69 era, 106 K, 1.30 whip < - Half year because of injury, just like JJ
2008 - 202.1 IP, 13-10, 3.47 era, 183 K, 1.28 whip < - $1.4 million year 4. Same as JJ

Post 2008, Greinke signed a 4/$38 extension, $3.75-$7.25-$13.50-$13.5 (signed after year 4)

So where do we begin. Greinke is spot on from years 3/4. This is the slot, we just have to value how much more is JJ than Greinke. JJ has an enormous “loss” advantage, a bit of whip, and probably a quarter to a half run less era. He also made the all-star team in 2009. JJ is clearly going to be slotted above Greinke off performance, and because of inflation.

Contract Comparisons - Player Stats for Year 4 / Contract Value Year 5
Adam Wainwright - 158.1 IP, 12-7, 2.79 era, 1.28 whip, 140 K / $4.65 million (signed after year 2)
Matt Cain - 148 IP, 12-3, 2.25 era, 1.16 whip, 117 K / $4.25 million (signed after year 1)
Jon Lester - Currently in year 3 / $5.75 million (signed after year 2)
James Shields - Currently in year 3 / $4.25 million (signed after year 1)

Cole Hamels (a Super2), signed a contract for years 3-4-5 for $4.35, $6.65, and $.9.5 million. The $9.5 is technically his year 5 salary so that isn’t comparable to JJ, but that $6.65 certainly marks the HIGH. Hamels was coming off a 227 IP, 14-10, 3.09 era, 1.08 whip, 196 K season. That is certainly very comparable to what Johnson is doing right now. Hamels signed the deal after year 2.

Other notable pitchers hitting arbitration year 5, year 4 salary noted - Felix Hernandez ($3.8), Justin Verlander ($3.6)

So the question now is, what’s JJ’s arbitration status for next year. What is JJ’s longterm contract status for next year. Each I think have very, very, different, responses.

Arbitration

At this point, it is clear Johnson is going to murder people all year. When I did this before, I was assuming a back to earth period where JJ’s era would shoot back to “good not amazing” levels of 3.6-3.8, the whip climbs over 1.20, etc. But JJ has decided he’s going to be a legitimate # 1 SP. Great, awesome. Despite the fact his Year3 innings are low and Greinke is such an amazing comp for all the reasons where we’d hope he’d only slot above him maybe a million bucks to the “Wainwright” level of compensation, we have the new Lester and Hamels contracts to deal with. JJ has to go above Lester in arbitration. He’s simply better than him and the Marlins are going to get slammed if they try and argue a low 3 era / 1.15 whip / 180 K JJ, is lower than a (projecting) 3.75 / 1.30 / 200 K Lester. There’s just no way an arbitration panel is going to buy that, even if you want to argue AL/NL, etc. Additionally, Lester is a bad comp for JJ because the 5th year contract price is LOWER than what the ‘free market’ would give because the Red Sox bought this year 3 years in advance. Jon Lester arguing a contract in three years is a higher value than him signing one right now. So suffice to say, if the Marlins are insane and don’t offer JJ a 4-5 year deal (see below), they are going to get slammed. I don’t know if JJ can get up to Hamels, who has been healthy and won the World Series, but it’s going to be. An additional problem would be if King Felix or Verlander randomly have their arbitration hearing before Johnson’s, or sign new deals. They would each get to Hamels levels easily. Making the case even harder for the Marlins.

So the Arbitration Projection.

Low - $4.75 million. Wainwrightish, and JJ is hurt by his lack of innings in 2008.
Medium - $5.8 million. Lesterish, and JJ because the top non-Super2 slot for 5th year players. (not including Verlander or Felix really jumping here, which is possible)
High - $6.75. Hamelsish, and JJ becomes the new slot because he is that awesome and general inflation

I think the Marlins strategy would be a low 5 and arguing everyone but Hamels. I think if JJ trys to go huge with Hamels, he’ll get shot down for the lack of innings in year 3. Those innings won’t have a major effect on his figure, but they are still there to tip the scale. If the Marlins try to lowball this, like they did with Uggla last year, they are going to lose. But, I think discussing arbitration strategy is foolish. JJ needs the contract. And he needs it now.

Contract

So you don’t have to scroll up, Greinke signed a 4/$38 extension, $3.75-$7.25-$13.50-$13.5 (4/$38). Lester is making (years 5-8, including option) $5.75-$7.6-$11.6, $13 (4/$37). So we have a nice baseline for top young starters here. One, who has the same innings pitched track JJ does, and the other bought out years in advance. JJ has to be slotted above this. Forgot Wainwright, who is $4.6-$6.5-$9-$12 (4/$32). Nice deal for the Cards.

So after the blah blah back and forth with JJ wanting a $70 million deal and the Marlins wanting to give him $38.01 million, I think this is reasonable.

2010 - $5.5 million
2011 - $7.75 million
2012 - $14 million
2013 - $14.25 million
2014 - $14.5 million club option / $1.5 buyout
4/$43 or 5/$56

That seems about right. JJ will either be 29 or 30 at the end of this deal, meaning he is due another huge payday in his career. Which is very important and why he’d never sign a 7 year deal. Not that we would want to either, but just saying.

Overall. I find it imperative we sign JJ to a 4-5 year contract similar to the above. Not just because arbitration is scary, but because we don’t have to sign anyone else, and JJ is simply a cornerstone player you build around. Also from JJ’s perspective, he still is coming off the major arm surgery. Banking $5-6 million in arbitration would be nice, but that’s not “settle down forever” money. Getting a $40-50 million dollar contract is “locked up for life.” The time is now for both parties for the deal. Make it happen.

[lou]

Dan Uggla (4th year salary $5.35)

2008 - 146 G, 531 AB, 97 R, 32 HR, 92 RBI, 171 K, .260/.360/.514 (.874)
2009 - 105 G, 370 AB, 51 R, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 95 K, .235/.353/.449 (.802) (Aug. 7th)
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - 158 G, 550 AB, 80 R, 30 HR, 85 RBI, 150 K, .245/.360/.450 (.810)

Not a second baseman, but what’s really important to note is Garret Atkins.
2007 - 605 AB, .853 OPS, 25 HR, 111 RBI - Club Controlled YEAR 3
2008 - 611 AB, .780 OPS, 21 HR, 99 RBI - $4.3 million YEAR 4
2009 - $7.05 Million < - YEAR 5

So regardless of a 70 OPS drop, once you make a lot, you make a lot and will get a significant pay raise. Granted Atkins still had very close HR/RBI/AB totals, but Uggla is going to get “close” (HR, only a handful less RBIs, less than 20 less Runs, a lot less K), to his 2008 rates even if that OPS is well off a .874. So anyway you look at it, Uggla is not going up $1-2 million. Uggla’s going to go up $3-4.

Year 5
Chase Utley - $7.5, with unknown parts of signing bonus additional to this
Hanley - $ 7 (using middle infielders too)
Pedroia - $5.5
Tulo - $5.5
Kinsler - $4

Alright so we get the idea. Uggla is already over nearly all of them. This is easy. Atkins went down in performance, got a little less than a $3 million raise. Uggla’s performance is basically the same decline, but he’s still going to be paid.

Low - $7.4. Utleyish. Marlins try to be cute and slot him below him, and lose again. They did this in 2009 with a $4.4 million-$5.3 million gap (Utley made $4.5 in year 4, so there whole argument was "he's not as good as Utley." Doesn't work, as Utley had a contract with lower figures upfront. Dummies).
Medium - $8 million. This is an Atkinsish $2.7 raise, and very realistic.
High - $8.75. Uggla’s agent really try to push slot but bit off more than they can chew.

[lou]

Cody Ross (4th year salary $2.2)
2008 - 145 G, 461 AB, 59 R, 22 HR, 73 RBI, .260/.316/.488 (.804)
2009 - 104 G, 381 AB, 55 R, 18 HR, 58 RBI, .257/.317/.472 (.789) (as of Aug 7th)
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - 155 G, 560 AB, 80 R, 27 HR, 85 RBI, .260/.320/.475 (.795)

And I have not determined how many lefties Cody will face the rest of the year to really pad the stats if he wants too. But I think the expectation is reasonable.

Comparables

Alex Rios
2007 - 161 G, 114 R, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 17 SB, .297/.354/.498 (.852) ($2.5)
2008 - 155 G, 91 R, 15 HR, 79 RBI, 32 SB, .291/.337/.461 (.798) ($4.8)

Not perfect, but I want to use Rios because of the defensive factor to nip that in the butt right from the start. Cody obviously is killing it with the glove, so I wanted to at least have a similar offensive performer (OPS/HR wise) on the list. Also, because Rios $2.5 in year 4 is very similar to Ross $2.2

Year 5s
Teahen - $3.5. Had a .715 OPS. Cody’s over this.
Cuddyer - $3.75. Made $1.4 in year 4,significantly lower than Cody. Had .867 OPS year 4. This is a $2.5ish jump, so it shows how much you can go up. This is similar to Atkins, etc, when it comes to performance jumps.
Sizemore - $4.6
Granderson - $5.5
Hawpe - $5.5 (made $3.9 in year 4, significantly higher than Cody)
Braun - $6 (incentives could push up)
Markakis - $6.75 (made $3 in year 4)

I do not think this one is complicated. Cody is having a nice, non-breakout huge Cuddyer like season, so he’s due for a decent raise. He shouldn’t get as much of a raise as Cuddyer, but it should be close because of inflation. The rest of the star outfielders, Cody has no shot at.

Low $3.5. Teahen, and Cody’s ‘lower’ AB in 2008 hurt him. Very doubtful.
Medium $4.2. Gets a $2 million raise. Not quite the $2.5+ raise Atkins/Cuddyer and others have gotten, but enough to make a big dent in his salary.
High - None. He’s not getting in sniffing distance of Sizemore. No upside here.

[nny]

sad to see Cantu that high. I thought he'd only be in the 4.5-5m range. But ditching cody and uggla should still allow a spot for him a third. god what are we going to do about third lol.

Not sure how a MLB contract works for a minor league player, where the player does not become arb eligible by the end of it. Verlander is the only comp I can think of, but he qualified for arb by the end of the deal. Any help here, would be appreciated

Based off Japanese contracts, I would the player would make the minimum (or, whatever the club deems, anyway). Since when a JP player signs a contract for less than 3 years, there's an clause so that at the end of the year, that player become a free agent.

That's an interesting thing about his contract though that I never noticed.

[lou]

Ricky Nolasco ($2.4 salary year 4)
2008 - 212 IP, 15-8, 3.52 era, 1.10 whip, 186 K
2009 - 118 IP, 7-7, 5.00 era, 1.31 whip, 118 K
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - 185 IP, 12-10, 4.50 era, 1.25 whip, 180 K

Ricky is going to be weird. Ace type year 2008, ace type half season, worst pitcher ever half season. This is going to go to an arbitrator for sure. I can’t see the Marlins offering him anything based on the horrible year, and I’d do the same thing, and Ricky’s agent is going to be “45 of 60 starts have been ace quality.” This one is probably the most volatile. Even more volatile than JJ. Alright so.

David Bush (Year 4 salary - $2.55)
2008 - 185 IP, 9-10, 4.18 era, 1.14 whip, 109 K Year 4, Year 5 Salary $4 million.

Nate Robertson (Year 4 salary $3.25)
2007 - 177.2 IP, 9-13, 4.76 era, 1.47 whip, 119 K / Year 5 $4.25 (part of a contract)

Joe Blanton (year 4 $3.7)
2008 - 197.2 IP, 9-12, 4.69 era, 1.41 whip, 111 K . Year 5 $5.7 (Arbitration)

So these are all over the place. Notice these are all losing pitchers, the best one (whip right?) makes the least money. Why? Because Robertson and Blanton started higher off on the money in year 4 because they threw more innings in years 2 and 3. So the arm surgery is going to hurt Ricky here a bit just because he is starting lower than all of them, at $2.4.

But Ricky is better than all of them. He has the best overall season in 2008. He has been ace like half of this year. His first half will certainly knock him down so he doesn’t drop a $3 million raise into the mid $5 million range, but he certainly has to be above the $1 million Robertson got, and probably a little over Bush’s $1.5 raise because he’s likely going to have more wins, similar era, ton more K, and an overall “better career” rating to tip the scale. Will he get a $2+ million raise? That’ll be interesting and where the aforementioned arbitration battle will concern.

Low - $4. This is between a Bush/Blanton raise.
Medium - $4.5. This is almost doubling his salary, and over the Blanton raise in dollar value. He gets this level because he’s better than Blanton, so despite starting lower on the pay scale than Joe, he gets the same dollar value moving up. This is of course, assuming the final line and Ricky really needs to be awesome to lower his era/etc. this low. If not, it will go closer to Bush. But I’m working under the assumption Ricky is a beast over his final 10 starts.
High - $5. Inflation really drives it up. Find it unlikely.
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Jeremy Hermida
2007 - .870 OPS
2008 - 142 G, 502 AB, 74 R, 17 HR, 61 RBI, .249/.323/.406 (.729) / 4th year salary $2.3
2009 - 103 G, 363 AB, 39 R, 11 HR, 41 RBI, .253/.337/.383 (.720)
Reasonable Season Line Expectation - 145 G, 525 AB, 55 R, 16 HR, 60 RBI, .260/.340/.400 (.740)

Mark Teahen (5th year $3.5). Was coming off a really bad .715 OPS full season in year four. i.e., exactly what Hermida is doing now. A really bad fourth year.

This is a great comp, and I don’t think looking at others really matters. You can see “higher” comps looking at Cody, and I think it’s safe to say Hermida is not going to do that. So Teahen had 572 AB, 66 R, 15 HR, 59 RBI, and a .715 OPS, made the same money as Hermida made in year 4, and got a $1.2 million raise.

Hermida is basically doing that. This is going to be quick and dirty.

Low - $3. They bench him the rest of the year and doesn’t get the AB
Medium - $3.5. They play him, and he does exactly what he’s been doing
High - $4. He OPS’s .800+ and is totally sweet the rest of the year, to really bump the OPS R/RBI/HR points up significantly into the 75 R/RBI, 20 HR, .780+ OPS range. Very doubtful, but I’ll come back to this if Hermida decides to crush a lot.
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sad to see Cantu that high. I thought he'd only be in the 4.5-5m range. But ditching cody and uggla should still allow a spot for him a third. god what are we going to do about third lol.

Based off Japanese contracts, I would the player would make the minimum (or, whatever the club deems, anyway). Since when a JP player signs a contract for less than 3 years, there's an clause so that at the end of the year, that player become a free agent.

That's an interesting thing about his contract though that I never noticed.

Cot's spreadsheet shows he is CC, and hits Ar in 2011.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...XT0r9n-YKxNjLQ

You know, and especially since he's been up and down so there is no way he can get a Super 2. Miller is going to be a very weird, made more money in years 1 and 2, than he did in year 3.

I'm thinking Miller is tendered for $425,000 next year. Which is HUGE as I've been expecting him to cost 2 bills for 2010.

[lou]

Alfredo Amezaga ($1.3 million)
2008 - 125 G, 311 AB, 41 R, 3 HR, 32 RBI, .264/.312/.367 (.679)
2009 - 27 G, 69 AB, 6 R, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .217/.267/.261 (.528)

There is really not much here. These type of players are not retained by clubs through arbitration, and are cut loose into street free agents. Best I can find.

Endy Chavez - $1.7 year 4, $1.8 year 5
Jamey Carroll -$.7k year 4, $1.7 year 5
David Eckstein - $2.25 both year 4 and 5. (Had a lot more playing time, this is the ‘high’)
Nick Punto - $.69k year 4, $1.7 year 5
Aaron Miles - $1 year 4, $1.4 year 5 (year 5 was a non-tender resign, so prob worth more via arbitration. Miles was playing about 400 AB a season, with a high .600 OPS just like AA’s 2008 season.

As we saw with Joe Crede above, missing a whole year still gets you a nominal raise. If Amezaga was healthy, we’d expect a raise to the $1.75 level which Chavez, Carroll, and Punto all got too as utility players. But since he’s been hurt, we don’t even need to go there.

Projection - $1.4 million.
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Ronny Paulino ($440k year 3 tender)
2006 - 129 G, 442 AB, 37 R, 6 HR, 55 RBI, .310/.360/.394 (.754)
2007 - 133 G, 457 AB, 56 R, 11 HR, 55 RBI, .263/.314/.389 (.703)
2008 - 40 G, 118 AB, 8 R, 2 HR, 18 RBI, .212/.277/.305 (.582)
2009 - 52 G, 156 AB, 15 R, 5 HR, 17 RBI, .263/.327/.404 (.731)
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - 75 G, 240 AB, 25 R, 7 HR, 30 RBI, .270/.330/.410 (.740)

Backup catchers do not really go to arbitration.

Mike Napoli (227 AB last year), 39 R, 20 HR, 49 RBI, .960 OPS. Qualified for a Super2, got $2 million. Obviously Paulino is nowhere near this.
Chris Snyder (326 AB in 2007), 37 R, 13 HR, 47 RBI, .775 OPS. Got $1.7 in 2008 first year arbitration.
Kelly Shoppach got $1.95 this year after murdering baseball last year.
Jon Buck got $2.2 for a lot of playing time.

Matt Treanor
2007 - 55 G, 171 AB, 16 R, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .269/.357/.392 (.749), received $750,000k by the Marlins in arbitration. Years preceding, about the same amount of playing time.

This is an old comp, but one of the best we have.
Yorvit Torrealba
2002 - 53 G, 136 AB, 17 R, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .752 OPS
2003 - 66 G, 200 AB, 22 R, 4 HR, 29 RBI, .702 OPS
2004 - 64 G, 172 AB, 19 R, 6 HR, 23 RBI, .709 OPS
2005 salary - $700,000

Keeping with the trend, Olivo (as a non-tender) also got $700,000.

Thing with Paulino is, he played A LOT more in the years leading up to this than Torrealba, so those primary starting years with Pittsburgh are probably going to count for something. Not much because the last two seasons Paulino has clearly fallen into backup territory, but it should be a little bump.

Low - $750,000. Gets slotted as a backup like the rest of them. His horrific defense keeps him at the Treanor level even though he’s played a little more in year 3.
Medium - $880,000. Gets a bump from 2006-2007 playing time. Salary doubles.
High - $1,100,000. Gets a really big bump from 2006-2007 playing time, and the additional AB he’s getting in 2009 being in a pretty strict platoon.
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Anibal Sanchez
2006 - 18 G, 114.1 IP, 10-3, 2.83 era, 1.19 whip, 72 k
2007 - 6 G, 30 IP, 2-1, 4.80 era, 2.07 whip, 14 k
2008 - 10 G, 51.2 IP, 5.57 era, 1.57 whip, 50 K
2009 - 7 G, 35.2 IP, 5.55 era, 1.77 whip, 28 K
Career - 41 G, 40 S, 231 IP, 15-13, 4.12 era, 1.48 whip, 164 K
Reasonable Expectation Season Line - No freaking idea. But it doesn’t matter.

Apparently John Patterson is out of the contract system, but if I remember correctly after his ace like 2005 season with the Nationals (31 G, 198 IP, 3.13 era, 1.19 whip, 185K), he got $1.8 million. 2002-2004, he made 32 starts. So about 63 starts. Anibal has had nowhere near this success in games player, or starts. So this represents the “high” for sure.

So I’m trying to think of other injured starters that had underachieving fourth year arbitration figures as a result?

Oh.

Sergio Mitre (year 4 $1.2 million)
2003-2006 - 51 G, 25 S, 5-15, about 160 IP, eyeballing a 5.8ish era, etc
2007 - 27 GS, 149 IP, 5-8, 4.65 era, 1.48 whip, 80 K.

Josh Johnson (year 4 $1.4 million)
2005-2007 - 39 G, 29 GS. 12-10, Had around 185 IP with a sub 3.50 era and 160 K or so.
2008 - 14 GS, 87.1 IP, 7-1, 3.61 era, 1.35 whip, 77 K.

So Anibal is around the same GS here and service time as JJ, has 3/4s a year up in ERA pretty much, not as good whip stats, and slightly less Ks. Johnson is a great comp for Anibal. He can’t go over Johnson no matter what, which is good for us. But as we saw with stuff like Francouer making more money than Hermida, despite less stats, this season, the amount of games player factor is pretty strong in determining these. Anibal is going to go up similarly as a result. Mitre on the other hand, has a lot more playing time, but it’s his performance that really shot him down. Anibal has a slightly better career performance, but not as much playing time. So Mitre is also a good comp for the Marlins.

Low - $900,000. Lack of playing time and brutal 2007-2009 really hurt him. He does not come back this year.
Medium - $1,000,000. His career numbers are better than Mitre, but he’s played in 30 less games. Comes back and throws a few starts.
High - $1,250,000. His better stats make up the gap to Mitre’s more playing time. He’s going to need to throw at least 8-9 non horrible starts this year.

[lou]

Going to do all four at once

Matt Lindstrom
2007-2008, 134 G, 6-7, 5 S, 33 Holds, 124ish IP, 3.10ish era, 1.38ish whip, 105 K
2009, 34 G, 31 IP, 2-1, 14 S, 2 H, 6.10 era, 1.81 whip, 26 K
Reasonable Projection Season Line - 50 G, 45 IP, 3-2, 20 S, 5 H, still really high era/whip
Career - Around 185 Games, 170 IP, sub 4 era, 1.45ish whip, 25 saves, 40 holds

Leo Nunez
2005-2008 106 G, 160 IP, 9-7, 0 S, 10 H, 5ish era, 1.40ish whip, 110ish K
2009 53 G, 49 IP, 3-4, 10 S, 13 H, 3.86 era, 1.20 whip, 46 K
Reasonable Projection Season Line - 75 G, 70 IP, 4-5, 15 S, 18 H, 3.50 era, 1.20 whip, 70 K
Career - Around 185 Games, 230 IP, mid 4 era, 1.40 whip, 15 S, 30 Holds

Reynel Pinto
2006-2008 - 151 G, 153 IP, 4-9, 2 S, 36 H, high 3 era, low 1.40s whip, 150ish K
2009 - 47 G, 40.2 IP, 3-1, 8 H, 2.66 era, 1.50 whip, 39 K
Reasonable Projection Season Line - 70 G, 60 IP, 4-2, 2.90 era, 1.50 whip, 60 K, 12 H
Career - Around 220 Games, 220 IP, mid 3 era, 1.45ish whip, 2 Saves, 45-50 holds, 200+ K

Scott Proctor
2008 - 38.2 IP, 6.05 era, 1.68 whip
2009 - Injured
Career - 262 G, 297 IP, 16-10, 1 S, 48 H, 4.42 era, 1.40 whip, 256 K

So here is a basic primer of recent RP comparables.

Years 4-5-6 salary trends

Grant Balfour $.500, $1.4
Scott Downs $.705, $1.025, $2.25
Brian Shouse - $.725, $.975
Frank Francisco $.775, $1.6
Jason Grilli $.8
Jason Frasor - $.825, $1.125, $1.45
Matt Thornton $.875, $1.325
Dan Wheeler $.930, $2.1, $2.8
Matt Guerrier $.950k, $1.475
Jesse Crain $1.05
Heath Bell $1.2
CJ Wilson $1.85
Mike Gonzalez $2.25
Let’s start from the top. Mike Gonzalez. Was Awesome in Pitt, was doing sub 3 era whip years over 50 innings, got 24 saves in year 3. If Lindstrom gets every save here on out, he can match the saves total (and Gonzalez prior years were loogy-holds years, so this is similar to Lindstrom as well), so this is the PEAK. However, Lindstrom has the double era, and the atrocious most recent season. So let’s fine a less awesome Gonzalez.

CJ Wilson in 2008 - 24 S, 6.02 era, 1.64 whip, and the two years prior very solid 115 IP of work at a 3.5 era, 1.30 whip, 22 H, etc. Career wise, CJ pitched 2005-2008 in 184 G, mid 4 era, 1.40+ whip, 24 S, 27 H, and around 170 K.This kind of looks like Lindstrom don’t it. Like, exactly. Except Lindstrom has better career ERA rates (ballpark factor, but I don’t know if arbiters will care for that argument), and more holds which are becoming slightly more ‘sexier’ as agents find ways to get middler relievers paid.

To show how dramatic these save stats are, look at Heath Bell, unquestionable fucking awesome. He is coming off back to back season which combine into 175 IP, a 1.10 whip, a low 3 era, an absurd 57 holds, 2 Saves, and 173 K. He makes less than CJ Wilson, because CJ Wilson has 20 more saves. *YIKES*

Basically, going to stop with Lindstrom right here, and I am very surprised at where I am projecting this number. Based on CJ Wilson, Lindstrom is going to get paid. He has a better overall resume than CJ. The only thing CJ has is, more saves in year 3. This projection is based on Lindstrom getting 5-6 more saves, but overall isn’t probably going to change much if he doesn’t get him. The change would move from the medium to the low.

Lindstrom

Low - $1.65 million. He does not get any saves the rest of the year
Medium - $1.85 million. He gets CJ’s contract and his better career rates make up the gap of not getting more saves in year 3
High - $2 million. Lindstrom is balls awesome the rest of the year and gets more saves.

So let’s move down to Leo now. Who is getting saves to. He is 1/2 the saves of everyone else, low teens.

Wheeler in 2006 had a 9 S/25 H year, and career wise had 14 saves entering arbitration. 4th year arbitration got him $930K, and he had really wicked back to back 70 IP, 2.50 era, 1.05 whipish seasons leading up to that. RP are insane! I love how CJ Wilson makes twice the money as Wheeler because he got 15 more saves. So, Leo does not have Wheeler’s resume, but he may end the year with some more saves if the Marlins opt to pitch him as closer versus Lindstrom. Let’s end Leo here, and assuming no horrific era explosion

Low - $1,000,000. Leo gets no more saves
Medium - $1,300,000. Leo gets 5-6 more saves.
High - $1,600,000. Leo gets 10 more saves.

So now we’re down to Pinto, just an ordinary non-save getting RP.

I like Thornton here, for similar career rates (3.79, 1.35 whip, tons of holds, Under 5 Saves pre year 4), the lefty factor, and games played. Pinto has played a lot for a RP. He’s not as good as Thornton from the whip factor, so he probably won’t get all the way to him, but you can see the range of all of these guys falling into the 700-850k range, so that seems safe for pinto.

Low - $750k. Whip hurts him
Medium - $850k. All the games played add up to one of the higher RP comps.
High - None.

So now we’re at Proctor. He made $1.15 in 2008, coming off 180 IP and an absurd 135 games over 2006-2007. All good rates, around a 3.50 era, 1.30 whip, 45 holds, a save, etc. Really nice workhouse reliever, and it shows you that ‘saves’ aren’t determinative because he got over Wheeler’s 9 saves, with an extra 50 innings of work or so. Then in 2009, he was non-tendered because he sucked, and was surely going to get a bump to the $2-2.25 million range. Marlins signed him for $750k.

I cannot think of any awesome RP for two years, crappy relief pitcher for 1 year, injured for entire next season, and then 6th year arbitration eligible RP comp. If you can, awesome. So I’m just going to guesstimate looking at some of those 6th year salaries (Guerrier and Frasor $1.4, Downs $2.2, Wheeler $2.8), where Proctor would land. Career good, recent two years bad. He’d at least get over $1 million. Maybe even a bit higher. But I’m going to just wild guess about $1.2 million. Making him a clear DFA for this organization.
--------------------
Here is a schedule for the future of other players:

Arbitration Eligibility for 2011
4th Year - A. Miller, Badenhop, Carroll, Vanden Hurk, Tankersley
5th Year - Lindstrom, Nunez, Pinto, Paulino, A. Sanchez
6th Year - Uggla, Hermida, Ross, Nolasco, Johnson, Amezaga
FA - Jorge Cantu, Scott Proctor

Arbitration Eligibility for 2012
4th Year - Baker, Volstad, Bonifacio, Meyer, Sanches, Coghlan (Likely Super2)
5th Year - A. Miller, Badenhop, Carroll, Vanden Hurk, Tankersley
6th Year - Lindstrom, Nunez, Pinto, Paulino, A. Sanchez
FA - Uggla, Hermida, Ross, Nolasco, Johnson, Amezaga

Arbitration Eligibility for 2013
4th Year - Maybin, G. Sanchez, West, Tucker, and anyone else currently in the minors that plays most of the 2010 season in the bigs, and 2011-2012 with the club.
--------------------
Major League Minimim 2010-2011 is $400,000 + cost of living increase. So I'd just say $405,000 for 2010, $410,000 for estimating purposes.
--------------------
So the keeping absolutely everybody team (except FA):

C John Baker $415,000
1B Jorge Cantu $6,000,000
2B Dan Uggla $8,000,000
3B Gaby Sanchez $405,000
SS Hanley Ramirez $7,000,000
LF Jeremy Hermida $3,500,000
CF Cameron Maybin $405,000
RF Cody Ross $4,200,000
B Emilio Bonifacio $405,000
B Wes Helms $950,000
B Ronny Paulino $880,000
B Brett Carroll $415,000
B Alfredo Amezaga $1,400,000

SP Josh Johnson $5,500,000
SP Ricky Nolasco $4,500,000
SP Andrew Miller $2,000,000
SP Chris Volstad $415,000
SP Anibal Sanchez $1,000,000
RP Matt Lindstrom $1,850,000
RP Leo Nunez $1,300,000
RP Reynel Pinto $850,000
RP Dan Meyer $415,000
RP Rick Vanden Hurk $415,000
RP Brian Sanches $415,000
RP Scott Proctor $1,200,000

$53,835,000
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The getting rid of Uggla, Hermida, Anibal, Proctor, Paulino, and Amezaga team, and using Coghlan, Morrison, West, Badenhop, Hayes, and De Aza/Raynor as their replacements:

C John Baker $415,000
1B Gaby Sanchez $405,000
2B Chris Coghlan $405,000
3B Jorge Cantu $6,000,000
SS Hanley Ramirez $7,000,000
LF Logan Morrison $405,000
CF Cameron Maybin $405,000
RF Cody Ross $4,200,000
B Emilio Bonifacio $405,000
B Wes Helms $950,000
B Brett Hayes $405,000
B Brett Carroll $415,000
B De Aza/Raynor $405,000

SP Josh Johnson $5,500,000 < - Contract not Arb. value, bump to low $41 million for Arbitration value
SP Ricky Nolasco $4,500,000
SP Andrew Miller $435,000
SP Chris Volstad $415,000
SP Sean West $405,000
RP Matt Lindstrom $1,850,000
RP Leo Nunez $1,300,000
RP Reynel Pinto $850,000
RP Dan Meyer $415,000
RP Rick Vanden Hurk $415,000
RP Brian Sanches $415,000
RP Burke Badenhop $415,000

$40,295,000 < - Pretty reasonable, and a lot of money to burn with Cantu and Ross still on the team
--------------------
Looking at that team, and seeing how horrible the bench is, I think the best course of action would probably be to trade Cantu for salary relief, and between one of the other guys (Uggla, Hermida, Anibal) being moved, acquire more help at 3B. Then use saved money to drastically upgrade the Hayes and De Aza/Raynor spots on the bench with legit veterans costing $1-2 million each. The team would be putting a lot of faith into Maybin, Morrison, Coghlan, G. Sanchez, and new and presumably young 3B to hit right away, but the staff is great and the minors pretty deep with Tucker, Wood, Leroux, Parcell, Winters, Trahern, Sanabia, Cishek, Ceda, Owens, and others lurking in AA/AAA, and Stanton, Dominguez, Cousins, and Petersen in AA.

Or they could just buy a better bench and go to the low $40 millions. And still have the lowest payroll in baseball.

[nny]

well also have to remember that buying a bench bat would also mean minus the 400k to raynor. So if they hand out a 1 mil contract to Ross Gload v2.0, and then just keep Paulino (cuz face it, not really going to be any FA around 1 mil that'll be upgrade), you're looking at ~+1.3 mil which basically puts them at exactly 40 mil.

actually Paulino's done worse than I thought. I thought he was atleast hitting lefties lol (.720 OPS against them). but, w/e.

I wonder if John Buck will get DFA'd. Will get upper 700 OPS against LHP and has a canon, although suffers from Olivo-itis with the glove.

[lou]

Ross Gload actually has a $2.6 million option for next year. I find it highly unlikely the Marlins keep him for that. And the basic MLB rules are, once they decline that option they can't sign him till May right?

The FA list looks horrible. I'd say maybe Torrealba for a backup catcher. They tried before, he's an upgrade defensively, and he hits lefties harder than righties. I guess it all depends on price.

Have to see which arb guys they choose to keep. If they get rid of Ross and Cantu as well as the other guys detailed, they will have a bunch of money to spend on nominal free agents. Not including all the potential roster fillers they get back by moving the 5-7 players.

[BigGameFish]

Do we have the possibility of getting a conditional 1st round pick if any of our players sign elsewhere?

[Fish and Chips]

NJ is almost a type B.

[lou]

Do we have the possibility of getting a conditional 1st round pick if any of our players sign elsewhere?

What Fish said, but no. It's unlikely NJ brings back a Compensatory 2nd rounder.

After 2010 though, I think Cantu would easily be a B, more than likely an A if he starts the entire year. Might be a reason as to keep him at 3B for the year. He'd have basically ended up costing the Marlins $10 million for 2008-2010 ($500k, $3.5, estimated $6), and would bring back two first round picks.

One hell of a "FA" signing if that's what it comes down to.

I really like that "$41 million" team above if they can fix the backup catcher and backup OF spot with legit veterans.

[nny]

Ross Gload actually has a $2.6 million option for next year. I find it highly unlikely the Marlins keep him for that. And the basic MLB rules are, once they decline that option they can't sign him till May right?

I meant the Ross Gload 2.0 as in whatever LH 1B/LF/RF guy is on the market. Eric Hinske, Frank Cat, Greg Norton, Daryle Ward...Hinske make me north of a mil but I really doubt the rest do.

[nny]

I doubt we offer NJ arbitration anyway so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

We worry about guys accepting in the first place, and then you have consider the fact that the market crashed for his kind of player last season and a lot of people were talking about guys should have accepted arbitration last offseason so I'm sure guys are gonna do it more this offseason.

[lou]

I meant the Ross Gload 2.0 as in whatever LH 1B/LF/RF guy is on the market. Eric Hinske, Frank Cat, Greg Norton, Daryle Ward...Hinske make me north of a mil but I really doubt the rest do.

Gotcha.

We did get the Royals to pay for Gload this year. I'm sure Beinfest can figure something out for the other spots. But I guess the main point is, I really hope we keep both Cantu and Ross.

R Maybin CF
L Coghlan 2B
R Hanley SS
R Cantu 3B
L Morrison 1B/LF
R Ross RF
L Baker C
R G. Sanchez/B. Carroll 1B/LF

I really like the lineup. If Hanley does his normal .950, Cantu/Ross their normal .800, Coghlan repeats his .750+ and Baker his .775+, all we have to do is replace Uggla (.800), Bonifacio (.600), Hermida (.725), and some Nick Johnson at let's say an .850 OPS. That's averaging into .750-.775, and I feel pretty confident a collection of Maybin, Morrison, G. Sanchez, and Carroll can do that cumulatively. Offense isn't going to take a hit at all, and is going to explode in 2 years when they get some experience and Stanton and Dominguez into the mix.