Todd Walker Wins Arbitration Hearing

[oldcubsfan]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

[Amazing_Grace]

For the life of me I don't understand why Todd Walker hasn't wound up starting somewhere. He consistently puts up a .350 or above OBP, rarely strikes out, and is left-handed. Perhaps we see in Todd Walker the extent to which MLB overestimates the importance of defense at some positions. Honestly, I'd feel better with Todd Walker starting at 2b than Mark DeRosa, and as of now, DeRosa is making more money. Look at the career stats of these players and tell me why Walker isn't more worthy of a starting 2b job than DeRosa?

 

Is Todd Walker better enough though to warrant giving up a draft pick though? When you consider that the Cubs would have to give up (I think a 3rd round pick) as well as other teams would have to give up their first or 2nd to get Walker, it makes more sense why they would want to go with other similarly productive options at 2B now and keep the pick. I know I'd rather have DeRosa and keep that high pick to try to rebuild the farm system.

 

OK I don't get it. If the Cubs would have given up a pick to get Walker, why didn't they have to give up a pick to get DeRosa. They were both FA's right? Did the Rangers not offer him arbritration? I thought the pick only changed hands if the player declined arbritration. If you're asking me "should the Cubs have signed Walker if he declined San Diego's arbritration offer", then no, the difference between Walker and DeRosa isn't worth a draft pick. In any event, the Cubs didn't have to trade Walker to begin with. Not trading him wouldn't have involved any picks going anywhere.

 

Well, true, but by trading him they got a very intriguing prospect.

Walker was classified as a type A free agent as a 2B, so if somebody signed him like the Cubs they would have been forced to give the Padres a draft pick.

DeRosa qualified as a type B free agent because he was listed as an OF, and OF's numbers are much higher across the board than at 2B. With that, the Rangers get a supplemental pick for the Cubs signing him, but the Cubs didn't actually have to give up a pick for him.

 

Ah, I see. It's difficult to keep baseball's arcane player signing rules straight. Who did we get for Todd Walker? Were they regarded as a very good prospect?

[Pushfrog98]

I had a brain fart for a second and thought "Didn't San Diego trade Barfield to the Indians?" Then realized that they also signed Marcus Giles this winter.

[CubColtPacer]

For the life of me I don't understand why Todd Walker hasn't wound up starting somewhere. He consistently puts up a .350 or above OBP, rarely strikes out, and is left-handed. Perhaps we see in Todd Walker the extent to which MLB overestimates the importance of defense at some positions. Honestly, I'd feel better with Todd Walker starting at 2b than Mark DeRosa, and as of now, DeRosa is making more money. Look at the career stats of these players and tell me why Walker isn't more worthy of a starting 2b job than DeRosa?

 

Is Todd Walker better enough though to warrant giving up a draft pick though? When you consider that the Cubs would have to give up (I think a 3rd round pick) as well as other teams would have to give up their first or 2nd to get Walker, it makes more sense why they would want to go with other similarly productive options at 2B now and keep the pick. I know I'd rather have DeRosa and keep that high pick to try to rebuild the farm system.

 

OK I don't get it. If the Cubs would have given up a pick to get Walker, why didn't they have to give up a pick to get DeRosa. They were both FA's right? Did the Rangers not offer him arbritration? I thought the pick only changed hands if the player declined arbritration. If you're asking me "should the Cubs have signed Walker if he declined San Diego's arbritration offer", then no, the difference between Walker and DeRosa isn't worth a draft pick. In any event, the Cubs didn't have to trade Walker to begin with. Not trading him wouldn't have involved any picks going anywhere.

 

Well, true, but by trading him they got a very intriguing prospect.

Walker was classified as a type A free agent as a 2B, so if somebody signed him like the Cubs they would have been forced to give the Padres a draft pick.

DeRosa qualified as a type B free agent because he was listed as an OF, and OF's numbers are much higher across the board than at 2B. With that, the Rangers get a supplemental pick for the Cubs signing him, but the Cubs didn't actually have to give up a pick for him.

 

Ah, I see. It's difficult to keep baseball's arcane player signing rules straight. Who did we get for Todd Walker? Were they regarded as a very good prospect?

 

Jose Ceda-a 19 year old pitcher out of the Dominican. He's raw, but he can really bring it-up to 99 miles an hour. He was rated as the 14th best rookie league prospect overall for the major leagues-I'm not sure where he falls on the Cubs rankings, but he definitely is worth the difference between Walker and DeRosa this year IMO.

[Amazing_Grace]

For the life of me I don't understand why Todd Walker hasn't wound up starting somewhere. He consistently puts up a .350 or above OBP, rarely strikes out, and is left-handed. Perhaps we see in Todd Walker the extent to which MLB overestimates the importance of defense at some positions. Honestly, I'd feel better with Todd Walker starting at 2b than Mark DeRosa, and as of now, DeRosa is making more money. Look at the career stats of these players and tell me why Walker isn't more worthy of a starting 2b job than DeRosa?

 

Is Todd Walker better enough though to warrant giving up a draft pick though? When you consider that the Cubs would have to give up (I think a 3rd round pick) as well as other teams would have to give up their first or 2nd to get Walker, it makes more sense why they would want to go with other similarly productive options at 2B now and keep the pick. I know I'd rather have DeRosa and keep that high pick to try to rebuild the farm system.

 

OK I don't get it. If the Cubs would have given up a pick to get Walker, why didn't they have to give up a pick to get DeRosa. They were both FA's right? Did the Rangers not offer him arbritration? I thought the pick only changed hands if the player declined arbritration. If you're asking me "should the Cubs have signed Walker if he declined San Diego's arbritration offer", then no, the difference between Walker and DeRosa isn't worth a draft pick. In any event, the Cubs didn't have to trade Walker to begin with. Not trading him wouldn't have involved any picks going anywhere.

 

Well, true, but by trading him they got a very intriguing prospect.

Walker was classified as a type A free agent as a 2B, so if somebody signed him like the Cubs they would have been forced to give the Padres a draft pick.

DeRosa qualified as a type B free agent because he was listed as an OF, and OF's numbers are much higher across the board than at 2B. With that, the Rangers get a supplemental pick for the Cubs signing him, but the Cubs didn't actually have to give up a pick for him.

 

Ah, I see. It's difficult to keep baseball's arcane player signing rules straight. Who did we get for Todd Walker? Were they regarded as a very good prospect?

 

Jose Ceda-a 19 year old pitcher out of the Dominican. He's raw, but he can really bring it-up to 99 miles an hour. He was rated as the 14th best rookie league prospect overall for the major leagues-I'm not sure where he falls on the Cubs rankings, but he definitely is worth the difference between Walker and DeRosa this year IMO.

 

Guys that throw that hard are few and far between. I'd agree that it was probably worth it, given our minor league system's track record of developing pitching talent.

[BigbadB]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

 

I think the Padres will keep him, but only as insurance at 3b if Kouzmanoff doesn't work out.

[Lefty]

`

The average salary for an outfielder is 4.88 million, for a shortstop it's 4.06 million, and for second basemen it's 2.79 million.

 

And what was the average salary for 2b's when you exclude the guys making league minimum, like Josh Barfield, Richie Weeks, Dan Uggla, Robinson Cano, Jorge Cantu, Chase Utley, Jose Lopez, Brandon Phillips, Jose Castillo and Aaron Hill.

 

You have to admit that this is a pretty extensive list of minimum payroll talent. 1/3 of the major league teams worth.

 

Chase Utley makes a heck of a lot more than the minimum.

 

Anyways, that just goes to show you how easy it's been for teams to find cheap 2B talent. No need to pay big for such modest production.

 

 

Which makes the time Neifi spent at second base even more incomprehensible.

[CubColtPacer]

`

The average salary for an outfielder is 4.88 million' date=' for a shortstop it's 4.06 million, and for second basemen it's 2.79 million.[/quote']

 

And what was the average salary for 2b's when you exclude the guys making league minimum, like Josh Barfield, Richie Weeks, Dan Uggla, Robinson Cano, Jorge Cantu, Chase Utley, Jose Lopez, Brandon Phillips, Jose Castillo and Aaron Hill.

 

You have to admit that this is a pretty extensive list of minimum payroll talent. 1/3 of the major league teams worth.

 

Chase Utley makes a heck of a lot more than the minimum.

 

Anyways, that just goes to show you how easy it's been for teams to find cheap 2B talent. No need to pay big for such modest production.

 

 

Which makes the time Neifi spent at second base even more incomprehensible.

 

Well, I guess the only thing I can say is that they didn't expect Neifi to be playing 2B very much-they thought they had their starter there, and they didn't anticipate their starter at second moving to first in the middle of the season when second base help is not nearly as easy to find.

[CubinNY]

`

The average salary for an outfielder is 4.88 million' date=' for a shortstop it's 4.06 million, and for second basemen it's 2.79 million.[/quote']

 

And what was the average salary for 2b's when you exclude the guys making league minimum, like Josh Barfield, Richie Weeks, Dan Uggla, Robinson Cano, Jorge Cantu, Chase Utley, Jose Lopez, Brandon Phillips, Jose Castillo and Aaron Hill.

 

You have to admit that this is a pretty extensive list of minimum payroll talent. 1/3 of the major league teams worth.

 

Chase Utley makes a heck of a lot more than the minimum.

 

Anyways, that just goes to show you how easy it's been for teams to find cheap 2B talent. No need to pay big for such modest production.

 

 

Which makes the time Neifi spent at second base even more incomprehensible.

 

Well, I guess the only thing I can say is that they didn't expect Neifi to be playing 2B very much-they thought they had their starter there, and they didn't anticipate their starter at second moving to first in the middle of the season when second base help is not nearly as easy to find.

 

From a production standpoint, Neifi has no buisiness on a ML club. He's hung around becuase he has a good glove and can play more than one position. He's also really likable. He talks to everyone fans, scouts, players from other teams, his own teammates. He always has a smile on his face and he hustles. I don't mean that in a bad way either. He's good guy. He talked to me for about 20 minutes in Pittsburgh after I approached him and scout during batting practice. In Chicago, I've seen him play with young children before the game on several occasions. He's very likeable.

 

In baseball once you're in you're in unless you have a reputation as difficult to get along with. Which brings me to Todd Walker. Walker has bounced around a lot and is the mirror image of Neifi. He's moderately productive but doesn't seem to get along well with others. I haven't personally met Walker so I am basing this on what I've read.

[CubColtPacer]

`

The average salary for an outfielder is 4.88 million' date=' for a shortstop it's 4.06 million, and for second basemen it's 2.79 million.[/quote']

 

And what was the average salary for 2b's when you exclude the guys making league minimum, like Josh Barfield, Richie Weeks, Dan Uggla, Robinson Cano, Jorge Cantu, Chase Utley, Jose Lopez, Brandon Phillips, Jose Castillo and Aaron Hill.

 

You have to admit that this is a pretty extensive list of minimum payroll talent. 1/3 of the major league teams worth.

 

Chase Utley makes a heck of a lot more than the minimum.

 

Anyways, that just goes to show you how easy it's been for teams to find cheap 2B talent. No need to pay big for such modest production.

 

 

Which makes the time Neifi spent at second base even more incomprehensible.

 

Well, I guess the only thing I can say is that they didn't expect Neifi to be playing 2B very much-they thought they had their starter there, and they didn't anticipate their starter at second moving to first in the middle of the season when second base help is not nearly as easy to find.

 

From a production standpoint, Neifi has no buisiness on a ML club. He's hung around becuase he has a good glove and can play more than one position. He's also really likable. He talks to everyone fans, scouts, players from other teams, his own teammates. He always has a smile on his face and he hustles. I don't mean that in a bad way either. He's good guy. He talked to me for about 20 minutes in Pittsburgh after I approached him and scout during batting practice. In Chicago, I've seen him play with young children before the game on several occasions. He's very likeable.

 

In baseball once you're in you're in unless you have a reputation as difficult to get along with. Which brings me to Todd Walker. Walker has bounced around a lot and is the mirror image of Neifi. He's moderately productive but doesn't seem to get along well with others. I haven't personally met Walker so I am basing this on what I've read.

 

I would agree with all of that-I was just saying that the abundance of 2B talent and signing Neifi had little to with each other, since Neifi was primarily signed to cover short if they needed him again like they did in 05. Earlier in his career, Neifi belonged on a major league roster-now, he might have the talent to be on the very end of some roster, but certainly not at the money he's making.

[Amazing_Grace]

`

The average salary for an outfielder is 4.88 million' date=' for a shortstop it's 4.06 million, and for second basemen it's 2.79 million.[/quote']

 

And what was the average salary for 2b's when you exclude the guys making league minimum, like Josh Barfield, Richie Weeks, Dan Uggla, Robinson Cano, Jorge Cantu, Chase Utley, Jose Lopez, Brandon Phillips, Jose Castillo and Aaron Hill.

 

You have to admit that this is a pretty extensive list of minimum payroll talent. 1/3 of the major league teams worth.

 

Chase Utley makes a heck of a lot more than the minimum.

 

Anyways, that just goes to show you how easy it's been for teams to find cheap 2B talent. No need to pay big for such modest production.

 

 

Which makes the time Neifi spent at second base even more incomprehensible.

 

Well, I guess the only thing I can say is that they didn't expect Neifi to be playing 2B very much-they thought they had their starter there, and they didn't anticipate their starter at second moving to first in the middle of the season when second base help is not nearly as easy to find.

 

From a production standpoint, Neifi has no buisiness on a ML club. He's hung around becuase he has a good glove and can play more than one position. He's also really likable. He talks to everyone fans, scouts, players from other teams, his own teammates. He always has a smile on his face and he hustles. I don't mean that in a bad way either. He's good guy. He talked to me for about 20 minutes in Pittsburgh after I approached him and scout during batting practice. In Chicago, I've seen him play with young children before the game on several occasions. He's very likeable.

 

In baseball once you're in you're in unless you have a reputation as difficult to get along with. Which brings me to Todd Walker. Walker has bounced around a lot and is the mirror image of Neifi. He's moderately productive but doesn't seem to get along well with others. I haven't personally met Walker so I am basing this on what I've read.

 

I would agree with all of that-I was just saying that the abundance of 2B talent and signing Neifi had little to with each other, since Neifi was primarily signed to cover short if they needed him again like they did in 05. Earlier in his career, Neifi belonged on a major league roster-now, he might have the talent to be on the very end of some roster, but certainly not at the money he's making.

 

Neifi had some value as a 25th guy on the bench that would be brought in as a late inning defensive replacement. There are worse players on ML rosters than Neifi Perez (Macias and Ojeda come to mind). There were players on the Cubs roster worse than Neifi last season (Mabry, Bynum). Neifi shouldn't start at any position ever, unless it's a dire dire emergency, since his offense is woeful and his defense is good but not spectacular. Putting him in the lineup day after day and getting him all those at-bats just racks up outs and makes the rest of the lineup that much less effective. As long as Neifi isn't getting regular AB's and is used mostly as a defensive replacement in blowout games to rest other guys, he's an adequate 25th man.

 

That said, the Cubs aren't the Devil Rays and have enough money they shouldn't have to sign players like Perez. It should never even be an option. The Cubs have plenty of money to spend and should have been able to do better than Perez for a utility IF and first guy off the bench. That they didn't is a testament to our ex-manager's and current GM's collective stupidity.

[CuseCubFan69]

I was thinking about Perez and players like him this weekend. IMO, players like him need to play to be a 270/290 hitter and if he isn't he is a 210/240 guy. I think he needs the reps of hitting/playing constantly or he even gets worse at the plate. I really believe that some players are like that, if they don't get those AB's they just are no longer effective or in Perez's case, even worse than normal. I have always thought he would be a good 25th man of a roster but I've changed my thinking and I think it would be better off for the Tigers or any team to just release him unless you have a horrible fielding SS and use him only for defensive purposes at the end of the game and can afford a roster spot to do so.

[Rob]

I was thinking about Perez and players like him this weekend. IMO, players like him need to play to be a 270/290 hitter and if he isn't he is a 210/240 guy. I think he needs the reps of hitting/playing constantly or he even gets worse at the plate. I really believe that some players are like that, if they don't get those AB's they just are no longer effective or in Perez's case, even worse than normal. I have always thought he would be a good 25th man of a roster but I've changed my thinking and I think it would be better off for the Tigers or any team to just release him unless you have a horrible fielding SS and use him only for defensive purposes at the end of the game and can afford a roster spot to do so.

 

Of course players need regular PA to be better hitters. Why do you think PH numbers for regulars are almost always such much worse in the aggregate than their normal numbers?

[CuseCubFan69]

I was thinking about Perez and players like him this weekend. IMO, players like him need to play to be a 270/290 hitter and if he isn't he is a 210/240 guy. I think he needs the reps of hitting/playing constantly or he even gets worse at the plate. I really believe that some players are like that, if they don't get those AB's they just are no longer effective or in Perez's case, even worse than normal. I have always thought he would be a good 25th man of a roster but I've changed my thinking and I think it would be better off for the Tigers or any team to just release him unless you have a horrible fielding SS and use him only for defensive purposes at the end of the game and can afford a roster spot to do so.

 

Of course players need regular PA to be better hitters. Why do you think PH numbers for regulars are almost always such much worse in the aggregate than their normal numbers?

 

What about guys like Martinez that played infield for the Cubs a few years back? There are a lot of guys like that who could fill in and still give some quality while getting minimum playing time. There are players that can do it and you're right, a lot of players need AB's to keep in the groove but Perez as a 25th guy just doesn't help a team as much as I previously thought. You've never seen a guy that hits 300 that doesn't get a lot of playing time? Do you think he would be doing that if he was a starter?

 

There are players out there that struggle when they get a lot of playing time. For some reason or other they don't succeed when they are given the keys to the starting position.

[Cubs1908]

Well, first let me say that I'm going to Mesa this year to see the Cubs dominate the Cactus League, but there's just one problem. I've got to get a new Cubs jersey cause my Todd Walker jersey (that I paid $100 bucks for) is useless! Hey, i say pay the guy. He's a career .289 hitter and one of the most dependable guys out there. I've been a fan of his since back in '91 when he played for LSU. So I say he deserves it, a guy who plays hard, produces and doesn't get much credit, hey at least he'll have more dough for it.

[CuseCubFan69]

Well, first let me say that I'm going to Mesa this year to see the Cubs dominate the Cactus League, but there's just one problem. I've got to get a new Cubs jersey cause my Todd Walker jersey (that I paid $100 bucks for) is useless! Hey, i say pay the guy. He's a career .289 hitter and one of the most dependable guys out there. I've been a fan of his since back in '91 when he played for LSU. So I say he deserves it, a guy who plays hard, produces and doesn't get much credit, hey at least he'll have more dough for it.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

I've always liked Walker. I think if he could have played 3rd better for the Pads last year it would have helped his value to the team though. He did a decent job at first for the Cubs.

[davearm]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

Agreed.

 

It was nice that Walker won his hearing, but the only way he actually makes that $3.95M salary this year is if the Padres are able to trade him this spring.

 

IMO it's far more likely that he'll get cut, the Pads will eat around $650K, and Walker will be scrounging around MLB looking for a bench job for 1 or 2 mil come the close of ST.

[CuseCubFan69]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

Agreed.

 

It was nice that Walker won his hearing, but the only way he actually makes that $3.95M salary this year is if the Padres are able to trade him this spring.

 

IMO it's far more likely that he'll get cut, the Pads will eat around $650K, and Walker will be scrounging around MLB looking for a bench job for 1 or 2 mil come the close of ST.

 

Is that true? I thought it would be a guarenteed contract for the whole thing since he is vested or won the arby? I didn't realize they could cut him for a percentage of his salary.

[davearm]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

Agreed.

 

It was nice that Walker won his hearing, but the only way he actually makes that $3.95M salary this year is if the Padres are able to trade him this spring.

 

IMO it's far more likely that he'll get cut, the Pads will eat around $650K, and Walker will be scrounging around MLB looking for a bench job for 1 or 2 mil come the close of ST.

 

Is that true? I thought it would be a guarenteed contract for the whole thing since he is vested or won the arby? I didn't realize they could cut him for a percentage of his salary.

If a team loses and arb hearing, they can cut the player prior to opening day and pay only a small % of the arb award. An earlier poster said it was 1/6, and that sounds right.

[CuseCubFan69]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

Agreed.

 

It was nice that Walker won his hearing, but the only way he actually makes that $3.95M salary this year is if the Padres are able to trade him this spring.

 

IMO it's far more likely that he'll get cut, the Pads will eat around $650K, and Walker will be scrounging around MLB looking for a bench job for 1 or 2 mil come the close of ST.

 

Is that true? I thought it would be a guarenteed contract for the whole thing since he is vested or won the arby? I didn't realize they could cut him for a percentage of his salary.

If a team loses and arb hearing, they can cut the player prior to opening day and pay only a small % of the arb award. An earlier poster said it was 1/6, and that sounds right.

 

I didn't know that, thanks!

[98navigator]

Well, first let me say that I'm going to Mesa this year to see the Cubs dominate the Cactus League, but there's just one problem. I've got to get a new Cubs jersey cause my Todd Walker jersey (that I paid $100 bucks for) is useless! Hey, i say pay the guy. He's a career .289 hitter and one of the most dependable guys out there. I've been a fan of his since back in '91 when he played for LSU. So I say he deserves it, a guy who plays hard, produces and doesn't get much credit, hey at least he'll have more dough for it.

 

I think there are services that provide for relettering/renumbering of jerseys. If money is an issue you might want to investigate that option.

[98navigator]

San Diego can still release him in spring training and pay 1/6 of the contract if they feel he is overpaid.

 

They do and they will, if they can't trade him. I'll bet he doesn't see opening day on the Padres roster. $4 mil to sit on the bench, I doubt it.

Agreed.

 

It was nice that Walker won his hearing, but the only way he actually makes that $3.95M salary this year is if the Padres are able to trade him this spring.

 

IMO it's far more likely that he'll get cut, the Pads will eat around $650K, and Walker will be scrounging around MLB looking for a bench job for 1 or 2 mil come the close of ST.

 

Is that true? I thought it would be a guarenteed contract for the whole thing since he is vested or won the arby? I didn't realize they could cut him for a percentage of his salary.

If a team loses and arb hearing, they can cut the player prior to opening day and pay only a small % of the arb award. An earlier poster said it was 1/6, and that sounds right.

 

I believe I read that they would only owe him $650k if released.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It appears that many expect the Players Association to file a grievance if Walker is released.

 

Link.

 

Player agents and major league executives said that if the Padres release utility man Todd Walker, they wouldn't be surprised to see the players' union file a grievance. The Padres would owe the utility man $658,000 of his $3.95 million arbitration-set salary if they release him by March 15.

Walker is a career .289 hitter whose best position is second base, where Marcus Giles is the projected starter and Geoff Blum is among the backups. At third base, the Padres have rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff, Russell Branyan and Blum. A left-handed hitter, Walker also has played first, but the starter there, Adrian Gonzalez, also is left-handed.

 

[goonys evil twin]

It appears that many expect the Players Association to file a grievance if Walker is released.

 

Link.

 

Player agents and major league executives said that if the Padres release utility man Todd Walker, they wouldn't be surprised to see the players' union file a grievance. The Padres would owe the utility man $658,000 of his $3.95 million arbitration-set salary if they release him by March 15.

Walker is a career .289 hitter whose best position is second base, where Marcus Giles is the projected starter and Geoff Blum is among the backups. At third base, the Padres have rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff, Russell Branyan and Blum. A left-handed hitter, Walker also has played first, but the starter there, Adrian Gonzalez, also is left-handed.

 

 

If the CBA allows for such a maneuver, what would be the basis for their greivance?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It appears that many expect the Players Association to file a grievance if Walker is released.

 

Link.

 

Player agents and major league executives said that if the Padres release utility man Todd Walker, they wouldn't be surprised to see the players' union file a grievance. The Padres would owe the utility man $658,000 of his $3.95 million arbitration-set salary if they release him by March 15.

Walker is a career .289 hitter whose best position is second base, where Marcus Giles is the projected starter and Geoff Blum is among the backups. At third base, the Padres have rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff, Russell Branyan and Blum. A left-handed hitter, Walker also has played first, but the starter there, Adrian Gonzalez, also is left-handed.

 

 

If the CBA allows for such a maneuver, what would be the basis for their greivance?

 

The article doesn't say. My guess is that arbitration must be entered into with good faith. The PA could argue he's only being released because he won his hearing. They might argue if the Padres didn't want to take the risk of losing arbitration they should never have offered. I'm not sure of the nuiances of the CBA, but my guess is it would revolve around a "good faith" clause.