Another Arbitration Deadline

Baseball is the only sport I know that is non-stop in the off-season.  After the World Series players file for free-agency, the awards for the season are announced throughout a week and half span, teams have decisions regarding offering arbitration to their free agents, the Winter Meetings start, free agents start signing, trades and rumours are happening & then the fun starts, with a day like today.  Tonight at 11:00 PM ET there is another deadline for arbitration eligible players with 3-6 years service time.  These types of players, like the Blue Jays P Brian Tallet & Rockies 3B Garrett Atkins have to be tendered a contract by tonight.  If the team tenders a contract, that player can negotiate a contract for 1-year or more.  If an agreement cannot be reached, the two sides will announce how far apart they are and an arbitrator will have to step in if a deal can't be made.  If the teams don't tender a contract, the player becomes a free agent.  This is something we see more of now with this option in place as teams feel they can save by not tendering these players a contract.  Players back in the day, like the Twins David Ortiz, have been in this situation before, and have made out pretty good as a free agent after there former teams make these decisions.

Here is an early look at some of the players in the news today:

Tendered Contracts (big names):

Rays P Randy Choate
Astros P Wandy Rodriguez
Astros OF Hunter Pence
Astros P Matt Lindstrom
Whiye Sox P Bobby Jenks
Blue Jays P Jeremy Accardo
Cubs P Carlos Marmol
Cubs SS Ryan Theriot
Twins P Jesse Crain
Marlins 2B Dan Uggla
Nationals OF Josh Willingham
Pirates P Zach Duke
Blue Jays P Brian Tallet
Blue Jays P Jason Frasor
Blue Jays P Brandon League

Non-Tendered Contracts; become free agents:

Yankees P Chien-Ming Wang
Braves 2B Kelly Johnson
Braves OF Ryan Church
Rockies 3B Garrett Atkins
Athletics DH Jack Cust
Reds OF Jonny Gomes
Mets P Tim Redding
Pirates P Matt Capps
Blue Jays C Raul Chavez
Giants 1B Ryan Garko


The Padres avoided arbitration with P Kevin Correia signing him to a 1-year / $3.6M deal.  He was one of the players rumoured to become a free agent, so big news for Padres fans.  Other players to avoid arbitration:

Rays agree to terms with C Dioner Navarro on a 1-year / $2.1M contract

Braves agree to terms with OF Matt Diaz on a 1-year / $2.55M contract

Marlins agree to terms on a 1-year / $1.1M contract

Royals agree to terms on a 1-year / $1.8M contract