Arrieta, Cubs have biggest gap in arbitration at $5.5M

 

NEW YORK (AP) Jake Arrieta, who won the Cy Young Award as the National League’s top pitcher in 2015, was at loggerheads with the Chicago Cubs over terms of a new contract as players and teams swapped proposed figures on Friday.
There were 92 new contracts agreed Friday, leaving 35 players at odds with their teams, and the biggest difference in valuation was that of Arrieta.
His representatives asked for a pay raise from $3.63 million to $13 million, but the Cubs offered only $7.5 million.
There was also a big gap in the valuations for Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban relief pitcher who is under investigation for domestic violence by Major League Baseball. He requested a raise from $8,075,000 to $13.1 million but the New York Yankees, who only acquired him from Cincinnati on Dec. 28, offered $9 million.
Others with sizable gaps included Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain ($7.85 million vs. $5 million), just-acquired New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker ($11.8 million vs. $9.4 million) and Baltimore pitcher Zach Britton ($7.9 million vs, $5.6 million).
For those who don’t settle, hearings before three-person panels of arbitrators will be scheduled for the first three weeks of February. Teams had eight of 14 decisions go their way last year, the most hearings since 2001, and are 301-221 record since arbitration began in 1974.
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, the American League MVP, had a narrow difference with the Blue Jays, asking for $11.8 million. Toronto offered $11.35 million to Donaldson, who lost in arbitration last year and made $4.3 million rather than his request for $5.75 million. He hit .297 with 41 homers and 123 RBIs, helping Toronto reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Among the star pitchers who agreed to one-year deals Friday were Stephen Strasburg of Washington ($10.4 million), Matt Harvey of the New York Mets ($4,325,000) and Dallas Keuchel of Houston ($7.25 million), the AL Cy Young Award winner.
NL batting champion Dee Gordon finalized a $50 million, five-year contract with the Miami Marlins, who agreed to a $2.8 million, one-year deal with pitcher Jose Fernandez.
Tampa Bay second baseman Logan Forsythe agreed to a $10.25 million, two-year contract.
Among those striking one-year deals were Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen ($10.65 million), Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon ($9.65 million), Baltimore outfielder-first baseman Mark Trumbo ($9.15 million), newly acquired Toronto reliever Drew Storen ($9,375,000) and St. Louis outfielder-first baseman Brandon Moss ($8.25 million).