Monday Rockpile: Arbitration Deadline Day

by Russ Oates on Dec 1, 2008 8:15 AM MST in Rockpile

There isn't much news on the Colorado Rockies' end for arbitration. Brian Fuentes will receive an offer for arbitration before the deadline at midnight ET, ensuring the Rockies draft pick compensation should Fuentes not accept the offer. Still, Fuentes has scheduled a visit with the New York Mets. I wonder if Citi Field will be a big selling point. Or should I call it, as NYC councilmen from Staten Island want to, Citi/Taxpayer Field?

Anyway, the Rockies have a total of six free agents, and only Fuentes will receive an offer for arbitration. Matt Herges, Livan Hernandez, Adam Melhuse, Scott Podsednik, and Glendon Rusch won't recieve arbitration since they don't yield draft picks. However, Podsednik and Rusch remain of interest to the Rockies, as the first link reminds us.

And maybe the most important thing mentioned in the first link is that the Rockies want Ryan Spilborghs to play center field in Mexico so he can prepare for an everyday role in 2009.

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Interesting move regarding Spilly..

Considering the fact he played Center regularly until last year. Spilly was the best defensive outfielder in left and center based on RZR for the Rockies last year. Only Seth Smith had a higher rating in Right field and Dexter Fowler had more out of zone plays with almost a third less innings. Here is a sample of Spilly’s breakdown by position over the last two years.

2008
Pos-Inn-RZR-OOZ
LF 166 .957 8
CF 130 .969 3
RF 146 .886 6

2007
LF 66 1.000 3
CF 325 .904 9
RF 124 .917 3

http://www.hardballtimes.com/thtstats/main/index.php?view=fielding&linesToDisplay=50&orderBy=zone_rating&direction=DESC&qual_filter=ignore&season_filter5B5D=2008&league_filter5B5D=All&team_filter5B5D=COL&pos_filter5B5D=8&Submit=Submit

Welcome back Don Baylor. You're like a cold turkey sandwich, an oldie but a goodie!!

by Charlie77 on Dec 1, 2008 9:35 AM MST reply actions

Don't drink the water in Mexico, Spilly

But if you’re there all winter that might be a problem. Conversely, not wearing yourself out might be more important.

Blast and botheration.

by Silverblood on Dec 1, 2008 2:13 PM MST reply actions

Arbitration Question:

I realize that this is unlikely but, what happens if a team signs two type A players from two different teams? Which team gets the first round draft pick? Thanks for the information.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
JFK

by jrockies on Dec 1, 2008 6:45 PM MST reply actions

I believe I mentioned

this in my draft order piece last week. Assume Team Y signs player A who has an Elias rating of 98.XX from Team C and player B who has an Elias rating of 97.XX from Team D. Team C would get the first round draft pick since their player was rated higher.

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by Russ Oates on Dec 1, 2008 7:07 PM MST up reply actions

Spilz

I believe MLB.com mentioned him playing CF in Mexico a few weeks ago. Either that or Renck is repeating this as news, as I read this somewhere before.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 1, 2008 7:22 PM MST reply actions

I remember that also,

but I don’t believe that article ever mentioned that he was getting ready for an everyday gig there.

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Dec 1, 2008 7:24 PM MST up reply actions

The D-backs failed to offer Dunn arbitration

Meaning they gave up Micah Owings, Wilkin Castillo and Dallas Buck for a two month rental that didn’t even get them into the playoffs. At this point, unless a player takes the arbitration offer, it looks like they will have just as many extra draft picks (5) as the Dodgers next season. I keep reading that

Alan Embree wasn’t offered arbitration, as expected, taking one option off the table for him which decreases his leverage a bit. I keep reading in places that Dunn and Burrell benefit from not being offered arbitration because teams won’t have to pay a draft pick to sign them. I completely disagree with this. This might add one or two teams to the list of those interested, but it won’t have a material impact on the contract offers those teams are willing to commit to. They might, in fact, offer less now knowing that the sluggers don’t have the option of going back to their old team and payscale. In short, we’re in an environment this winter where the arbiters offer greater competition for these FA’s than ownership of other teams do.

by Rox Girl on Dec 2, 2008 5:51 AM MST reply actions

Mistake by Josh Byrnes..

I don’t understand the decision to not offer Dunn arbitration. With a healthy outfield of Young, Upton and E. Byrnes the snakes don’t really need Dunn, so why not try and get something in return?

Welcome back Don Baylor. You're like a cold turkey sandwich, an oldie but a goodie!!

by Charlie77 on Dec 2, 2008 10:09 AM MST up reply actions

I think the mistake was made trading for him in the first place

It was too reactionary to the Dodgers acquisition of Manny Ramirez without enough potential reward. The D-backs spent a lot of talent last season on what amounted to cosmetic improvements. The overall talent level of that organization has been heading the wrong direction since J. Byrnes took over, but similarly to the 2003-2006 Rockies, how much of that is Byrnes’ fault and how much is the fault of different, stingier, ownership could be up for question.

In a sense, I think they got played by actions of both the Dodgers and Rockies with assists to the Phils and Yankees. The Ramirez trade pushed them to get Dunn with the thought that there would be enough demand for him this winter, but then that demand dried up with Ramirez, Holliday, Burrell and Abreu all looking like better options for clubs in the market for corner OF’s. Since Philly and Colorado seem intent on putting their chips into the market without replacing them from the market, it gives the advantage to the buyers and makes arbitration and the high payout for one year before re-entering FA for 2010, when things might be more favorable, a more tempting option for players.

by Rox Girl on Dec 2, 2008 10:49 AM MST up reply actions

Why not to offer arbitration to Dunn?

Because of the likelihood he accepts it (to spend a full year hitting 50 dingers in Chase to increase his value), and adding $12m to the D’backs payroll at a time when they absolutely can’t afford it.

I agree with Rox Girl, the trade in the first place was reactionary, and probably not in the franchise’s long term best interests. But as the economy went further south, it’s become more evident that teams are only offering arbitration if they could legitimately use the player on the team the following year. Why? Because the likelihood of a player you don’t want to accept arbitration, actually accepting it, will go up as the likelihood of them scoring desired 3- and 4-year megabucks deals this winter goes down.

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Dec 2, 2008 11:01 AM MST up reply actions

Good point, but Byrnes made other mistakes...

The dBacks season was lost the day they traded Jose Valverde. He anchored the bullpen and setup the success of the other four hoursemen to come in and shutdown the game in the later innings. Last year for Houston, Valverde led the NL in saves with 44 in 51 opportunities. Meanwhile the snakes bullpen blew 26 saves.Brandon Lyon ended up with 26 saves in 31 chances and an ERA of 4.70 which was the highest ERA of any closer with at least 20 saves.

Welcome back Don Baylor. You're like a cold turkey sandwich, an oldie but a goodie!!

by Charlie77 on Dec 2, 2008 3:18 PM MST up reply actions