Two Arbies Down For Yanks, One To Go
Via Anthony McCarron -
The Yankees avoided arbitration with an important outfielder Tuesday when they agreed to a one-year deal with Xavier Nady. They also avoided arbitration with Melky Cabrera, who could be their starting center fielder.
The Yankees did not announce the figures for Nady and Cabrera, but two baseball officials with knowledge of Nady’s pact said he will make $6.55 million in 2009, nearly doubling his salary. Cabrera is set to make $1.4 million, almost $1 million more than he made last year.
Nady, 30, figures to be the starting right fielder, but teams have been asking about him in trade talks. Yankee officials have been saying that Cabrera will compete with Brett Gardner to start in center.
The Yankees have one more arbitration-eligible player – reliever Brian Bruney – and believe they could settle with him before having to go to a hearing.
Bruney asked for $1.55 million and was offered $1.1 million. He made $725,000 last season when he was 3-0 with a 1.83ERA in 32 games, but missed significant time with a foot injury.
It would be silly for the Yankees and Bruney not to settle at $1.3 million. Nice job by Cashman to get these out of the way.
Cabrera is set to make $1.4 million, almost $1 million more than he made last year.
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Gotta love MLB’s compensation system.
Gotta love MLB’s compensation system.
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I agree, of course, that Cabrera’s not worth that much. But, in general, the arbitration system keeps players at a value far below what they would make on the open market. I have no particular problem with it, given that good players will be given the chance to earn vast wads of cash later in their careers.
My only real problem with the arb system, in fact, is that it doesn’t take into account a player’s age (as far as I know). Players shouldn’t be penalized for being held in the minors far beyond the time they should have been called up.
This is old news but Melky related, via Ken Rosenthal:
The Yankees are encouraged by the play of center fielder Melky Cabrera in the Dominican winter league; in just over 100 plate appearances, Cabrera had a batting average/on-base/slugging line of .312-.393-.409. Defense is the Yankees’ priority in center field, and club officials believe that Cabrera, Brett Gardner or some combination of both will fill the position adequately
Seems like that is the plan for CF right now.
Re: Melky’s deal. This is the price the Yankees have to pay for running him out there as much as they did in 2008. Had he went down to the minors, say, in May or June, and stayed down there for the rest of the season, then he would not have as much service time as he did – and would have had less leverage at the table this off-season. So, if you want to get on anyone about Melky’s salary, blame the Yankees, not the player.
then he would not have as much service time as he did – and would have had less leverage at the table this off-season.
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Service time is the only leverage he had
I would’ve loved to see the details of his case had his agent prepared one.
I’m not for or against arbitration, or even how much Melky makes, I just find it amusing, that due to arbitration or whatever factors that count that he gets over double what he made last season.