Arbitration Deadline

by Tom Dakers on Dec 1, 2008 11:26 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

Today is the deadline for offering arbitration to six-year free agents. So for bloggers of most teams it gives them something to write about, argue, second guess. For us, well, there isn't anything to debate.

We have three eligible players: AJ Burnett, who we will offer arbitration to, so that we will get the two draft picks when he signs somewhere else, Gregg Zaun, who we won't offer, even though he is a Type B free agent, on the fear that he would accept, and Brad Wilkerson, who unless he has pictures of JP with farm animals, there is no way he'd be offered anything. Maybe a ticket out of town.

Zaun is the only one with a bit of room for debate, as it seems he wouldn't want to come back but then I'm not sure he would get any better offers and he would get a fair amount of money in arbitration. So won't happen.

And there ends the debate.

Boy it would be nice if there was some Jay's news.

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I would offer to Zaun

he’s complained so much about his treatment that he would have to swallow his pride or walk away. As a type B, the team that signs him won’t have to give anything up, so someone will most likely bite. Even if he accepted, which he might, he probably won’t cost too much more, and might be better, than whoever they will sign.

If the Jays still have any faith in Thigpen and are going to let him back up, then I would not offer to Zaun. But my guess is they will not offer to Zaun and then sign a lousy hitting backup C to about $1.5 million less (if that much less) than Zaun would get in arbitration, then pocket the money. It’s not my money, so it’s certainly a defensible move from a business standpoint, but the Jays haven’t given any indication that they will actually be using the money to help the team. That being the case, I’d rather they go with the move with the possibility for a good-sized payoff, and the only way that happens is through the compensation pick.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Dec 1, 2008 12:26 PM EST reply actions