The Red Sox haven’t gone to an arbitration hearing since 2002 and that streak looks like it might be broken later this afternoon. The Red Sox offered David Ortiz arbitration earlier this off season and he accepted. However, the two sides have not been able to come together on a 1 year deal. The Red Sox offer $12.65 million which is just a shade above what he made last year and Ortiz’s agent came in with a number of $16.5 million. The two sides still have the morning to work out a deal somewhere in the middle, but if not..it’ll be on to arbitration.
If the case goes to arbitration later today, the Red Sox will make the case that Papi is a one dimensional player and not worth any more than 12.65 mil. They will compare other DHs around the league. On the other side, Ortiz’s camp will make the case that he had a fantastic year last year and compare him to other sluggers in the league. I am sure they will look at Adam Dunn as a DH making 14 mil, etc.
Do I think Papi is worth 16 mil? No, but I do think he should get more than what the Sox are offering. I don’t think the Sox should have offered him arbitration if they were going to basically offer him what he made last year. They had to know that Papi would not accept that. And, while I love Papi…he’s quite an emotional guy. If there was any player I would not want to go to a contentious arbitration hearing with…it is David Ortiz.
So, who do you think will win the hearing? The Sox offered basically the same he made last year and Papi’s people overreached in what they were asking for. However, if it comes down to it…I think Papi wins the hearing. So, Sox…how about this morning you make a deal, mkay?
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