![]() ![]() Settling early with Fulmer could create other issues. When the arbitration panel picks the Tigers' number - $2.8 million - or Fulmer's number - $3.4 million - next month, that number will likely play a small part in determining the salaries of Casey Mize and Beau Burrows and Franklin Perez one day. Settling with Fulmer, either at his number, or at the midpoint - $3.1 million - could affect their future leverage in negotiations, especially with a burgeoning number of pitching prospects who could be arbitration-eligible soon. There are bigger issues involved in the Tigers’ decision to take Fulmer to an hearing. The illusion that baseball isn't a big-money business is long gone players are well aware of teams' professional desires to keep salaries down, even if sometimes the proceedings can seem personal. That process was led by former Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, who was the architect of the Tigers' non-arbitration streak before joining the Red Sox in 2015. "Nothing that was said was personal," Betts told after winning $10.5 million in arbitration last offseason. "It was all just a debate that both sides stated fact" I thought that wasn't fair."īut Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts spoke highly of his team’s professionalism in a similar process. After receiving $3 million, rather than the $5 million he had asked for, Betances told MLB.com, "They take me in a room and they trash me for about an hour and a half. New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances was stung by his team’s victorious arguments in a contentious hearing after the 2017 season. The emotional damage created by arbitration hearings can vary. That starting point also impacts arbitration decisions for the other 29 teams and their players. Saving $600,000 - pennies in a Tigers payroll that will top $112 million in 2019 - is significant when talking about a starting point for 2020, when Fulmer will be eligible for arbitration again. After on-field performance is accounted for, comparisons to other contracts are the biggest factor in determining salaries via arbitration. Taking Fulmer to arbitration represents a change in philosophy. The desire to avoid arbitration has at times led to more favorable contracts for players, with agents using that desire in their clients' favor. The end of that streak, which started before general manager Al Avila joined the organization, won't be mourned much by the Tigers. In the past, the Tigers had viewed the salary-exchange deadline as merely a starting point, with many deals worked out in the month between the deadline and the start of hearings.īut this year, in taking Fulmer’s 2019 contract to a panel of arbitrators, who will choose one side or the other, the Tigers will snap a streak that dates back to 2001. Even so, the Tigers went the “file and trial” route in just one case, agreeing to contracts with five of their six arbitration-eligible players before the deadline. ![]() ![]() ![]() The Tigers were among the last few teams to adopt MLB's prevalent “file and trial” strategy, in which teams end salary negotiations once the deadline passes to exchange figures and instead settle things in court. More: Tigers deal with Nicholas Castellanos paves way for eventual trade Here's why: The decision to take the “file and trial” route with Fulmer has little to do with his 2019 salary and everything to do with future salary negotiations. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |