How does Arb process actually work?

by HALO_86 on Feb 19, 2009 11:04 AM PST

how does a player and a team pick how much a players worth? i only ask because i don't understand how Jeff Francoeur got what he got based on his bad overall season with the Braves last year. Francoeur link. i know they didn't go through the process but why would the Braves give him that much off of last years struggles? or am i just misguided on how much he struggled last year?

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In a nutshell

I believe the arbitrator decides which salary to award based on a comparison with other players’ salaries.

by Higz on Feb 19, 2009 11:15 AM PST reply actions

But then again, there's a reason that the definition of "arbitrary" is "pulled out of one's ass"

by Higz on Feb 19, 2009 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

Francoeur

asked for X amount. the Braves countered with X amount. based off of last season theres no way he would have won Arb case. why would the Braves offer that much to counter in the first place?

by HALO_86 on Feb 19, 2009 11:49 AM PST reply actions

I'm sure there are a lot of Braves fans asking that same question.

by Higz on Feb 19, 2009 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

But, in arbitration

the biggest decrease allowed from year to year salary is 20%. So, if Francoeur made $1 Million the least he can be paid is $800k.

Just an FYI.

Jim Scully

Jim Scully Home
Haloville - Land of the Halos

by jimmuscomp on Feb 19, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

Correct

The numbers devised by the team are based upon looking at comparable players (serivce time as well as stats) and attempting to figure out what a player with those characteristics should be paid. Obviously, someone like Ryan Howard has no peer in terms of similar term of service, so the stats are the dominant determinant.

by George Kaplan on Feb 19, 2009 1:01 PM PST reply actions

so

then who are some of Francoeur comparable peers?

by HALO_86 on Feb 19, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions

Thelma & Louise?

by sothball on Feb 20, 2009 6:04 AM PST up reply actions

my 2 cents

First of all I don’t understand why players are so scared of the hearing. Teams don’t say the player sucks, they just compare him to lower salaried players. And the players representatives say, no he is more like these higher paid guys.

Players are compared to others with a similar level of MLB experience. Only in the last year of arbitration are they allowed to compare with FA signings. They use basic stats like BA, HR, RBI, errors, etc.

It used to be one guy’s decision, now they have the panel of 3. If any of the arbitrators rule against one side too much, they can be removed from future panels, so they have to be careful to be fair and reasonable.

by elricsi on Feb 19, 2009 10:28 PM PST reply actions

I don't know that players are afraid...

I think the general idea is that it isn’t good business practice (for management or labor) to go to a meeting where the goal is the verbally diminish each other in front of each other. It makes for a crappy relationship. I think that is why a lot of arbitration hearings don’t ever happen – the adversarial nature of the hearings doesn’t build a long-lasting relationship. Or at least, doesn’t help to foster a good vibe between player and GM/Owner.

Jim Scully

Jim Scully Home
Haloville - Land of the Halos

by jimmuscomp on Feb 20, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

on Francoeur

if it went to Arb, could he have even won the case? i understand in FA when a player gets what he gets. in Arb i don’t understand how after such a bad year he can even ask for that much?

by HALO_86 on Feb 20, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions