Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Write Derek at drksmart @ gmail.com
Write Phil at phil.bencomo @ gmail.com
As noted in the Daily Herald and Sun-Times this morning, today is the day teams and players who are arb-eligible and have yet to reach an agreement must file the salary figures they could potentially do battle over. As of now, the gents who could find themselves beginning the process are Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Juan Pierre, Jerry Hairston, and Will Ohman.
Of course, since the current regime has famously yet to go to a hearing with a player, it's also a non-event in Cubland, beyond the fact that we'll all have a more concrete idea of what the overall payroll will look like tomorrow morning. So since there's very little suspense to be had, I'll make a feeble attempt at manufacturing some: in the comments below, list each player, the day you think they'll sign, and for what amount. Whoever is closest in total dollars, with the dates (in total days from the day of signing) acting as the tiebreaker, will receive...oh, let's say...the people's ovation and fame forever. My guesses:
Have at it people!
Hairston, 1/19, $2.1 m
Pierre, 1/23, $5.7 m
Zambrano, 1/25, $4.25 m
Prior, 1/28, $3.75 m
Hairston - 1/30 - 2.5m
Pierre - 1/24 - 6.5m
Zambrano - arb win
Prior - 2/12 - 6.75m
Dontrelle Willis just signed for one year at $4.35 million. Neither of our big guys will make more than that. That will be the arbitration standard.
Ohman, 1/18: $800K
Hairston, 1/18: $2.25M
Pierre, 1/19: $6M
Big Z, 1/21: $4.35M
Prior, arbitration: $4.25M
Well I certainly don't think Prior will make much more than Willis, with his IP being well below expectations the last few years. However, this was Willis first year of arbitration eligibility -- Zambrano will almost assuredly make more than him for that fact alone, and Prior will probably be right around Willis' number.
If I can amend my numbers, Derek, I would say:
Ohman, 1/18, $800,000
Hairston, 1/19, $2.1 m
Pierre, 1/23, $5.7 m
Zambrano, 1/25, $6.15
Prior, 1/28, $4.25 m
You're right. I forgot that fact about Z, but I'm still surprised with the number reported. That's the only one I was way off on. Let's hope he lands around 6.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.