V for Victory: Danny Valencia wins in arbitration

Danny Valencia is batting 1.000 when it comes to arbitration hearings. This morning we learned that the Valencia will be paid $1,675,000 this season for his services, a number the panel of arbitrators decided was more appropriate than the salary of $1,200,000 offered by the Blue Jays.

.@BlueJays Danny Valencia has been awarded $1.675 Million through arbitration.

— Blue Jays-Official (@BlueJays) February 6, 2015

If you have complaints about the ruling, send them to arbitrators James Oldham, Sylvia Skratek and Edna Francis (is anyone interested in an "Oldham& Skratek& Francis" ampersand t-shirt?)

Valencia becomes the first player to win in an arbitration hearing against the Blue Jays since Robbie Alomar got $1,250,000 awarded to him in 1991. Josh Donaldson is up next. Donaldson is asking for $5,750,000 and the Blue Jays are offering $4,300,000. Like Valencia's case, the arbitrators will pick one of the two figures for Donaldson's 2015 salary.

Now we will never write about Bill Risley ever again.

Update

I have seen the list of players who have gone through arbitration with the Blue Jays hundreds of times but I didn't notice a pattern until just now. Every pitcher who have gone through arbitration with the Jays have lost, while every position player have won.

• 1980: Dave Lemanczyk (RHP) LOST in arbitration. Club offered $130k, he asked for $165k (21% difference).
• 1980: Roy Howell (3B) WON in arbitration. Club offered $110k, he asked for $133k (17% difference).
• 1982: Dave Stieb (RHP) LOST in arbitration. Club offered $250k, he asked for $325k (23% difference)
• 1983: Damaso Garcia (2B) WON in arbitration. Club offered $300k, he asked for $400k (33% difference).
• 1983: Roy Lee Jackson (RHP) LOST in arbitration. Club offered $155k, he asked for $225k (31% difference).
• 1988: Tom Henke (RHP) LOST in arbitration. Club offered $725k, he asked for $1.025MM (29% difference)
• 1991: Roberto Alomar (2B) WON in arbitration. Club offered $825k, he asked for $1.25MM (34% difference).
• 1997: Bill Risley (RHP) LOST in arbitration. Club offered $380k, he asked for $550k (31% difference).
• 2015: Danny Valencia (3B) WON in arbitration. Club offered $1.2MM, he asked for $1.675MM (28% difference)

I guess this is good news for Josh Donaldson. Or, most likely, it is coincidence.