Masterson and the Tribe have filed their arbitration figures...and they are $4 million apart....the largest difference in all the filings across both leagues. The Tribe has offered $ 8.07 million, while Masterson filed for $11.8 million.

For those not familiar with the arbitration process, should the parties not reach a compromise figure, an arbitration board will conduct a hearing and will choose one figure, or the other (an in between figure is not an option). The arbitration process is usually contentious....and teams try to avoid that because it often breeds ill will. The Indians have not gone to arbitration since 1991. None of this is a problem....yet....and hopefully spurs both parties to hammer out an extension.

The Tribe also has 3 other players still unsigned, and the only one where there is a possible problem is Michael Brantley who has filed for $3.8 million vs. the Tribe's $2.7 million offer. Most pundits that have a feel for these kinds of things feel that if Brantley were to go through the arbitration process...he would easily win, and most expected the Tribe to offer in the $3.2 million + range. The team's low offer seems strange in light of Brantley solid consistent performance last year.

HitsRus;1568974 wrote:
The Tribe also has 3 other players still unsigned, and the only one where there is a possible problem is Michael Brantley who has filed for $3.8 million vs. the Tribe's $2.7 million offer. Most pundits that have a feel for these kinds of things feel that if Brantley were to go through the arbitration process...he would easily win, and most expected the Tribe to offer in the $3.2 million + range. The team's low offer seems strange in light of Brantley solid consistent performance last year.

yeah that should be a no brainer, give him the 3.8 and keep him happy.

Glory Days;1569128 wrote:yeah that should be a no brainer, give him the 3.8 and keep him happy.

Exactly. Pennny wise and pound foolish.

If the long term goal is to sign him to an extension, alienating him with a low-ball arbitration offer is not the best first step.

IggyPride00;1569138 wrote:Exactly. Pennny wise and pound foolish.

If the long term goal is to sign him to an extension, alienating him with a low-ball arbitration offer is not the best first step.

True. But you can't get the reputation of coming in with a fair offer everytime in arbitration. If the players know you will offer what they seek, the will begin seeking more knowing they can fall back to your number which was acceptable.

Like Hits has said, the Tribe haven't gone to arbitration since 1991 and have been low balling players left and right. As long as they negotiate fairly and in good faith, I don't think they should alienate anyone.

^^^+1

5 teams have reportedly made offers to Masahiro Tanaka .....the Tribe was NOT one of them. The offers came from the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, White Sox, and Diamondbacks(kind of surprised the Blue Jays were not in there)....and were in the $100 million/6year range. Tanaka must sign by 5PM on Friday or his right revert to his Japanese team. The team that signs Tanaka must also pay his Japanese team a posting fee of $20 million.

Once Tanaka signs, expect a flurry of activity as teams chase the other top pitching free agents. We will finally know Ubaldo's destination....and the Tribe can get to work on extending Masterson.

Well, I keep checking around, hopng to hear some hopeful new about Ubaldo Jimenez or extending Justin Masterson........but today we get news that theTribe has signed former Seattle closer David Aardsma to a minor league deal where he will compete for a spot in the pen. Aardsma had a good career going till he was sidelined with Tommy John surgery 2 years ago.

HitsRus;1571228 wrote:Well, I keep checking around, hopng to hear some hopeful new about Ubaldo Jimenez or extending Justin Masterson........but today we get news that theTribe has signed former Seattle closer David Aardsma to a minor league deal where he will compete for a spot in the pen. Aardsma had a good career going till he was sidelined with Tommy John surgery 2 years ago.

Typical Tribe signing here. Low risk with a potential reward. Single year deal with no club option I am sure.

Indians free agents are always.....

HitsRus;1571228 wrote:Well, I keep checking around, hopng to hear some hopeful new about Ubaldo Jimenez or extending Justin Masterson........but today we get news that theTribe has signed former Seattle closer David Aardsma to a minor league deal where he will compete for a spot in the pen. Aardsma had a good career going till he was sidelined with Tommy John surgery 2 years ago.

Tribe is playing a dangerous game right now waiting on a Masterson extension.

Matt Garza (2 years older than Masterson w/ injury history) just got 4 years/$52 million from the Brewers.

If they let Masterson play out the season without getting him signed and he has a good year you might as well trade him. Tanaka's deal will inflate pitcher's salaries going forward for guys who are 14-18 game winner types as some are projecting him to be.

I saw on CBS Sports that Scherzer wants to be a $30 million a year guy as well now. That will make guys like Masterson more expensive as the "fallback" option for teams priced out of that neighborhood.

I am not even sure what I am comfortable with as far as a Masterson extension. Given the team's finance's I am not sure we are ever going to win anything if he is the team's highest paid player, but at the same time he knows someone will pay him, so getting him for $12 million a season isn't going to happen either.

^^^^Ehhh I don't know about that. A two year extension for $12 million per ( which would be a a $36 million deal) would be pretty good for Masterson. If he goes to arbitration, he may well lose and have to setlle for $8 million this year, which means that he'd have to net a deal for $16 million+ next year to break even. There's no guarantee that he's going to be a better pitcher than he was last year and there is a significant risk of injury that would leave him with squat if he doesn't extend. I don't know what the Tribe is offering, but that kind of deal would have to be tempting.


Scherzer , of course, won a Cy Young last year, so if he follows that up with another good year, he might well be a $25 million/yr. pitcher. If he blows out his elbow....or his rotator cuff....not so much.

smh at these ridiculous amounts of money. Yankees have sailed wayyy past the salary cap and will pay the luxury tax. With the new tv package, I would like to see Dolan w/ a 100 million payroll. But w/ last year's attendance, don't see it happening.

^^^^ You would think with the futility of the other two major league franchises in this city on full display, one would see fans turning to the Indians with their entertainment dollar. Last year's attendance was a joke considering the team was in a playoff spot race, and the extraordinary effort the Indians made in making a making a visit to the stadium a great and an affordable experience.

HitsRus;1571558 wrote:^^^^ You would think with the futility of the other two major league franchises in this city on full display, one would see fans turning to the Indians with their entertainment dollar. Last year's attendance was a joke considering the team was in a playoff spot race, and the extraordinary effort the Indians made in making a making a visit to the stadium a great and an affordable experience.

They need to find a couple of years of sustained success. They have teased so often and never follow up a good season with another. Or go gangbusters April-June and then fall apart. If they start off well this year coming off the last season, I would expect better attendence throughout the season.

And from the HitsRus "Where are they now" file:

Aaron Laffey signed a minor league deal with the O's.

They need to find a couple of years of sustained success. They have teased so often and never follow up a good season with another. Or go gangbusters April-June and then fall apart. If they start off well this year coming off the last season, I would expect better attendence throughout the season.

I think they have the opportunity to create a buzz.....need one more big signing.

HitsRus;1571680 wrote:I think they have the opportunity to create a buzz.....need one more big signing.

Cruz (LOL), Carlos Pena and Morales are about the only 3 I can think of that would be upgrades and create a buzz...and the upgrade part is VERY questionable for Pena and Morales.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/jim-thome-humbled-to-be-getting-a-statue-at-progressive-field?ymd=20140125&content_id=67118192&vkey=news_cle

The Tribe will honor Jim Thome with a statue....

knowing on how cheap they are, it will probably be a bobble head nailed to the ground....

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/indians-justin-masterson-put-extension-talks-on-hold?ymd=20140127&content_id=67197460&vkey=news_cle

Sadly, the Indians have put expension talks with Justin Masterson on hold as they try to reach a 1 year deal to avoid arbitration.

HitsRus;1573468 wrote:http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/indians-justin-masterson-put-extension-talks-on-hold?ymd=20140127&content_id=67197460&vkey=news_cle

Sadly, the Indians have put expension talks with Justin Masterson on hold as they try to reach a 1 year deal to avoid arbitration.

Garza getting that deal really hurt the Tribe here. I woudn't want masterson at $52 million either, but shit we can't let good young pitchers walk (CC, Lee)

Yeah....putting talks off until after arbitration doesn't help them sign him long term either, as they lose the ability to make the offer attractive by overpaying him this year in exchange for the extension.

It's the dolands so I expect him to win the cy young and walk after this yr.

If Masterson gets off to a hot start again they might as well trade him and get something for him. The market for competent starting pitching is increasingly thin, and a guy like Masterson on the open market even if he has a pedestrian year will bring more than the Tribe would be comfortable paying. Another good year and he's completely out of their price range.

I just don't understand how the MLB thinks it is a good thing that these guys are getting these types of contracts. When you have mid tier guys making 50-80 million, there is a problem.

like_that;1573519 wrote:I just don't understand how the MLB thinks it is a good thing that these guys are getting these types of contracts. When you have mid tier guys making 50-80 million, there is a problem.

The league is swimming in money right now. Even the middle/small market teams are getting in on the big contracts.

Teams are also locking up their young guys more frequently and not letting them get to free agency. That has to a large degree driven the salaries up of the guys who do make it to free agency, because the quality is so thin. Teams are paying a huge premium to try and fill needs.

Masterson should have had an extension done already. Waiting until a guy's walk year to get serious about it is too late in the game to get a team friendly deal.