‘Tis Arbitration Season

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Instead of settling prior to an actual arbitration hearing, the Florida Marlins and Miguel Cabrera decided to duke it out in the first final-offer arbitration case won by a player in the 2007 MLB offseason [Cabrera's arbitration win is first for player this year].

The Marlins offered Cabrera $6.7 million, but Cabrera and his agent (Fernando Cuza) were awarded their offer of $7.4 million. Prior to Cabrera’s victory, the players had been 0-4 in winning arbitration hearings during the 2007 off-season.

In a post made almost exactly a year ago I looked specifically at arbitration in Major League Baseball [The Arbitration Battle: Advantage - Team]. The observations that I made last year seem to be on course again this year. When an arbitration case is actually heard, owners have an advantage (they are 4-1 so far this year). There are also a lot of negative consequences that may come along with following through with a hearing instead of settling before-hand [Arbitration...good or bad?].

As a baseball agent, arbitration is a huge facet of representing your clients. This is an area that should continued to be studied. There are a few upcoming hearings that I will keep you all updated on.

-Darren Heitner

Related posts:

1. Alfonso Soriano’s arbitration case
2. The Arbitration Battle: Advatange – Team
3. Arbitration…good or bad?
4. Analysis of “The National Hockey League and Salary Arbitration: Time for a Line Change”
5. Screw Arbitration, Throw Me The Rock!