Arbitration decisions today

by Travis G on Dec 1, 2009 2:16 PM EST in New York Yankees News

[Note by Ed Valentine, 12/01/09 7:33 PM EST : From LoHud comes news that the Yankees have declined to offer arbitration to anyone.]

Of the four major names, how many will be offered arbitration? There's Johnny Damon (type A), Hideki Matsui (unranked), Andy Pettitte (B) and Xavier Nady (B, somehow).

Joel Sherman expects the Yankees to decline to offer arbitration to Damon, Matsui and Pettitte. I could see that. Damon and Matsui are aging stars that would likely accept arbitration (and Matsui doesn't even offer the benefit of bringing back a draft pick). With Pettitte, the Yanks probably feel they can retain him for another 'discounted' year.

Nady will be an interesting decision. He would be worth offering arbitration, because if he declined, he would bring back a second-round draft pick, and if he accepted, we would get a good left-fielder for 2010 (at a decent cost because he barely played this year). However, if the Yankees think he can't stay healthy (he's coming off Tommy John surgery), then obviously it's not worth it. I don't know enough about his medical condition to declare him healthy or unhealthy. Hopefully the front office knows more.

Poll

Who should be offered arbitration (if you had to choose one)?

Damon

103 votes

Matsui

49 votes

Pettitte

163 votes

Nady

157 votes

472 votes | Poll has closed

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1 for 4

Only Nady really should get it depending on his health, we won’t get more than 5 mil solid deal. Pettitte is only playing for the Yanks, so no need to worry about the draft pick, Godzilla no worries, and Damon would accept it in a heartbeat and he’s not worth what he’ll get in arbitration. So, really Nady is the best bet, just in case he signs somewhere else, although I hope he come back.

by DarthRichter on Dec 1, 2009 2:40 PM EST reply actions

Nady made $6.5M in 2009. The least he could make in arbitration is $5.2M.
Considering that the Yanks basically ate that investment last season, plus Molina coming off the books, I think Nady is a reasonable risk (of arbitration).

I’d rather bring in 2 or 3 low cost alternatives to Damon than give him the 2 year/ $30M I think he’ll ultimately sign for.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Dec 1, 2009 2:42 PM EST reply actions

A player coming back from two TJ surgeries

is a bit of a $5.2m risk, no? I’m pretty sure he would accept with the Yankees’ LF vacant as of right now. I can’t imagine that any team which signs Nady would be willing to hand him a starting job. I’m predicting Nady will make at most $2.5m guaranteed next year.

by Scooby Snacks on Dec 1, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

Why are we not going to offer Damon arb?

It seems he wants the same contract essentially he had before, tho if the Yanks do that, it will only be for 2 years (at least at the most it better be).

So why not offer arb?

Johnny could decline it. It would be better to keep him at around the same deal for one year anyway, cuz he could just decline or maybe he plays for another contract.

I can’t see why they wouldn’t offer Damon arbitration.

Nady would make sense too (tho…how he is a type B, I don’t know).

but you gotta offer Damon arbitration.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 1, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

Given that arbitration is only for one year, this is a way of getting Damon back for mixed DH/of duty. Damon and Posada can alternate the DH spot as Austin Jackson is brought up for the last OF spot and Cervelli works in a C (with Montero in the wings). That may make Damon a bit pricier than they’d like, but I’d think it would be worth it because you’re keeping an effective bug aging offensive player while not locking into a multi-year deal

by d_c_guy on Dec 1, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

Damon and

If Damon was offered arbitration and accepted he’d be guaranteed at least 13 mil for next year and he might get more. The Yankees, rightly so, don’t think his market value is that high. It doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want to re-sign him.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 1, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions