Players sign deals, avoid arbitration

By foxsports
Published

Of the 119 players who filed for arbitration last Friday, only 37 exchanged proposed salaries with their clubs. Most players have already settled on new deals, including:

• Slugger Prince Fielder and Milwaukee agreed at $15.5 million, the highest one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible player.

• Postseason star Cody Ross and the World Series champion San Francisco Giants agreed to terms on a $6.3 million, one-year contract Tuesday. The deal marks a nice raise for the former kid rodeo clown. Ross earned $4.45 million last season, when he joined the Giants on a waiver claim from Florida on Aug. 22.

• Even though Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon was among those who exchanged figures, he already reached a $12 million agreement with the Red Sox, who also signed center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The base salaries are $12 million for Papelbon and $2.4 million for Ellsbury, according to the two people who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

• Left-hander C.J. Wilson and outfielder Nelson Cruz agreed to one-year contracts with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, getting significant raises. Wilson, who won 15 games last season when he made the transition from reliever to starter, gets a $7 million deal, up from $3.1 million last season. Cruz receives $3.65 million after making $440,000 last season. Both can earn an extra $150,000 in bonuses.

• Padres closer Heath Bell has agreed to a $7.5 million, one-year contract and four other San Diego players also received deals Tuesday that avoided arbitration. Outfielder Ryan Ludwick will earn $6,775,000, right-handed reliever Mike Adams received a deal for $2,535,000, third baseman Chase Headley gets $2,325,000 and pitcher Tim Stauffer gets $1,075,000.

• Right-handed pitcher Andy Sonnanstine and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year contract worth $912,500. The deal announced Tuesday leaves the defending AL East champions with no remaining arbitration cases. Center fielder B.J. Upton and the Rays agreed Monday to a $4,825,000, one-year deal that makes Upton the highest-paid player on the team.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Chad Billingsley have agreed to a one-year deal worth $6,275,000. Billingsley was 12-11 with a 3.57 ERA last season, when he earned $3.85 million. He made the All-Star team in 2009.

• The Oakland A's agreed to one-year contracts Tuesday with outfielders Josh Willingham and Conor Jackson, starting pitcher Dallas Braden and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. All four players were eligible for salary arbitration. Willingham receives $6 million for the 2011 season, Kouzmanoff $4.75 million, Braden $3.35 million and Jackson $3.2 million.

• The Cleveland Indians agreed to a one-year, $3.975 million contract with their best all-around player, OF Shin-Soo Choo, on Tuesday, extending their streak of staying out of arbitration hearings to 20 years. The Indians haven't gone to a hearing with any players since Jerry Browne and Gregg Swindell in 1991.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks signed shortstop Stephen Drew to a two-year, $13.75 million contract Tuesday. The deal includes a mutual option for a third year at a salary of $10 million. Arizona also signed arbitration-eligible left-hander Joe Saunders to a one-year, $5.5 million contract. In addition, the Diamondbacks signed a pair of free agents: utility man Willie Bloomquist got a one-year, $900,000 contract with a mutual option for 2012, and right-hander Aaron Heilman re-signed with Arizona for one year and $2 million. Arizona still has two players in arbitration — second baseman Kelly Johnson and catcher Miguel Montero.

• The Seattle Mariners have reached one-year deals with a trio of pitchers: closer David Aardsma, reliever Brandon League and left-hander Jason Vargas. The Mariners announced the deals on Tuesday, leaving them with their entire roster under contract for the 2011 season.

• The Philadelphia Phillies and right-handed pitcher Kyle Kendrick, agreeed to a $2.45 million, one-year contract. The Phillies announced the deal on Tuesday. Kendrick's contract includes awards bonuses.

• The Chicago White Sox agreed Tuesday to one-year contracts with left-hander John Danks, outfielder Carlos Quentin and right-hander Tony Pena. Danks will make $6 million, Quentin $5.05 million and Pena $1.6 million. Chicago also claimed right-hander Phil Humber off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

• The New York Yankees have agreed to one-year contracts with right-handers Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain and lefty Boone Logan. Hughes receives $2.7 million for the 2011 season, while Chamberlain will earn $1.4 million and Logan $1.2 million.

• The Minnesota Twins agreed to one-year contracts with a pair of relief pitchers, right-hander Matt Capps for $7.15 million and left-hander Glen Perkins for $700,000.

• Right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan has agreed to terms on a $1.4 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Right-hander Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets have agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.925 million. Pelfrey made $500,000 last year, when he was one of the team's few bright spots by going 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 33 starts and one relief appearance.

• The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Kyle Davies have agreed to a $2.3 million, one-year contract.

• The Washington Nationals have agreed to one-year contracts with outfielder Michael Morse and reliever Doug Slaten. Morse agreed to a $1.05 million deal and can make $300,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 300, $75,000 each for 350 and 400 and $100,000 for 450.

• Reliever Jon Rauch agreed Monday on a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, and pitchers Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen and Jesse Litsch settled their salary arbitration cases. Rauch, a free agent, got a one-year deal worth $3.75 million. Camp's agreement is for $2.25 million, Janssen's for $1,095,000 and Litsch's for $830,000.