How will the salary spike impact arbitration?

[Tim]

I'm trying to remember how arbitration salaries are based. Is it entirely based upon salaries of other, for example, four year players? Or does it index against what the general market is doing?

 

If it indexes, this will be both a huge cost and a huge opportunity for us. Z will cost a fortune and Prior could become more expensive. But teams like Florida have to be looking at this market and thinking to themselves, "Awww, crap."

[Rob]

I'm trying to remember how arbitration salaries are based. Is it entirely based upon salaries of other, for example, four year players? Or does it index against what the general market is doing?

 

If it indexes, this will be both a huge cost and a huge opportunity for us. Z will cost a fortune and Prior could become more expensive. But teams like Florida have to be looking at this market and thinking to themselves, "Awww, crap."

 

Typically, it's based on what arbitration-eligible players have gotten the few years prior... but I'm not sure if an obvious jump in salary levels is going to affect the "look at past years" method... though I imagine the agents are chomping at the bit.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Players can compare to what similar players have recieved in that year of service time, except for players in their final year. Those players can compare their numbers to all comparable players.

[goonys evil twin]

If it indexes, this will be both a huge cost and a huge opportunity for us. Z will cost a fortune and Prior could become more expensive. But teams like Florida have to be looking at this market and thinking to themselves, "Awww, crap."

 

It's time to throw the farm at the Marlins for Cabrera.