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 Of the 34 free agents in Major League Baseball that were offered salary arbitration this year, just two players, Texas Rangers RHP Frank Francisco and Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor have accepted the offers from their clubs, and therefore will be wearing their current club uniforms next season. (see the complete listing of free agent players offered and denied salary arbitration). Francisco earned $3,265,000 while Frasor pulled in $2,650,000 last season. Unsurprisingly the likes of Cliff Lee, and Carl Crawford did not accept salary arbitration opting instead for free agency where they will likely command more.
The trend of small numbers of free agent players accepting the offer for salary arbitration continues. The last free agency class saw just three players accept salary arbitration (Rafael Soriano of the Braves, Rafael Betancourt the Rockies, and Carl Pavano of the Twins) while there were just two the year prior (Darren Oliver, then with the Angels and David Weathers then with the Reds).
Of the three in the last cycle, two (Betancourt and Pavano) went so far as to exchange salary figures with their clubs. Before that cycle, just David Weather went through the player and club offering process.
Based on BizofBaseball.com salary arbitration data for the past 20 years, just 44 free agent players have exchanged figures with their respective clubs. Two FA players have gone through the process more than once (Jim Gott three years straight, 1990-92 and Juan Samuel in 1990=91). Below is a complete listing of free agent salary arbitration players that exchanged figures from 1990-2009:
SELECT READ MORE TO SEE DETAILS ON FREE AGENT PLAYERS IN SALARY ARBITRATION OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS
| Platform Yr |
Player |
MLS |
Plyr Offer |
Club Offer |
Diff |
Mid |
| 2009 |
Rafael Betancourt |
6.079 |
$5,000,000 |
$3,750,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$4,375,000 |
| 2009 |
Carl Pavano |
11.161 |
$8,500,000 |
$6,000,000 |
$2,500,000 |
$7,250,000 |
| 2008 |
David Weathers |
15.044 |
$4,600,000 |
$3,000,000 |
$1,400,000 |
-$200,000 |
| 2007 |
Mark Loretta |
12.011 |
$4,900,000 |
$2,750,000 |
$2,150,000 |
$3,825,000 |
| 2006 |
Tony Graffanino |
9.125 |
$3,700,000 |
$2,800,000 |
$900,000 |
$3,250,000 |
| 2006 |
Todd Walker |
9.057 |
$3,950,000 |
$2,750,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$3,350,000 |
| 2005 |
Travis Lee |
8.000 |
$2,900,000 |
$2,000,000 |
$900,000 |
$2,450,000 |
| 2004 |
Roger Clemens |
20.142 |
$22,000,000 |
$13,500,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$17,750,000 |
| 2003 |
Gabe White |
7.052 |
$2,700,000 |
$1,825,000 |
$875,000 |
$2,262,500 |
| 2002 |
Greg Maddux |
16.021 |
$16,000,000 |
$13,500,000 |
$2,500,000 |
$14,750,000 |
| 1997 |
Mike Munzo |
6.003 |
$695,000 |
$500,000 |
$195,000 |
$597,500 |
| 1996 |
Mike Bielecki |
9.144 |
$945,000 |
$450,000 |
$495,000 |
$697,500 |
| 1996 |
Greg Vaughn |
7.053 |
$5,675,000 |
$5,000,000 |
$675,000 |
$5,337,500 |
| 1995 |
Kevin Appier |
6.024 |
$5,387,500 |
$4,715,000 |
$672,500 |
$5,051,250 |
| 1995 |
Norm Charlton |
7.128 |
$2,500,000 |
$1,650,000 |
$850,000 |
$2,075,000 |
| 1995 |
Tony Fossas |
6.060 |
$920,000 |
$500,000 |
$420,000 |
$710,000 |
| 1995 |
Andres Galarraga |
10.046 |
$4,700,000 |
$4,300,000 |
$400,000 |
$4,500,000 |
| 1995 |
Mark Lemke |
6.036 |
$1,900,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$650,000 |
$1,575,000 |
| 1995 |
Sammy Sosa |
6.049 |
$5,950,000 |
$4,900,000 |
$1,050,000 |
$5,425,000 |
| 1995 |
Mike Stanton |
6.039 |
$1,750,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$550,000 |
$1,475,000 |
| 1995 |
Todd Stottlemyre |
7.111 |
$4,300,000 |
$3,200,000 |
$1,100,000 |
$3,750,000 |
| 1994 |
Chili Davis |
13.034 |
$5,100,000 |
$4,300,000 |
$800,000 |
$4,700,000 |
| 1994 |
Tom Gordon |
6.026 |
$3,600,000 |
$3,000,000 |
$600,000 |
$3,300,000 |
| 1994 |
Steve Ontiveros |
8.001 |
$1,200,000 |
$620,000 |
$580,000 |
$910,000 |
| 1993 |
Kevin Gross |
10.100 |
$3,000,000 |
$2,400,000 |
$600,000 |
$2,700,000 |
| 1993 |
Jeff Reed |
8.074 |
$850,000 |
$550,000 |
$300,000 |
$700,000 |
| 1992 |
Henry Cotto |
7.160 |
$1,350,000 |
$737,500 |
$612,500 |
$1,043,750 |
| 1992 |
Jim Gott |
11.000 |
$2,800,000 |
$2,300,000 |
$500,000 |
$2,550,000 |
| 1991 |
Daryl Boston |
6.047 |
$1,100,000 |
$825,000 |
$275,000 |
$962,500 |
| 1991 |
Jim Eisenreich |
6.032 |
$2,000,000 |
$1,300,000 |
$700,000 |
$1,650,000 |
| 1991 |
Jim Gott |
10.000 |
$2,400,000 |
$1,850,000 |
$550,000 |
$2,125,000 |
| 1991 |
Candy Maldonado |
9.028 |
$1,950,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$950,000 |
$1,475,000 |
| 1991 |
Mike Moore |
9.121 |
$3,900,000 |
$3,100,000 |
$800,000 |
$3,500,000 |
| 1991 |
Alejandro Pena |
9.162 |
$2,950,000 |
$2,100,000 |
$850,000 |
$2,525,000 |
| 1991 |
Juan Samuel |
8.041 |
$2,750,000 |
$1,900,000 |
$850,000 |
$2,325,000 |
| 1990 |
Tom Brunansky |
8.165 |
$2,750,000 |
$2,000,000 |
$750,000 |
$2,375,000 |
| 1990 |
Gary Gaetti |
9.017 |
$3,200,000 |
$2,350,000 |
$850,000 |
$2,775,000 |
| 1990 |
Jim Gantner |
13.056 |
$2,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,500,000 |
| 1990 |
Jim Gott |
9.000 |
$1,950,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$450,000 |
$1,725,000 |
| 1990 |
Mickey Hatcher |
8.000 |
$600,000 |
$450,000 |
$150,000 |
$525,000 |
| 1990 |
Jack Morris |
6.000 |
$3,350,000 |
$2,100,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$2,725,000 |
| 1990 |
Otis Nixon |
6.085 |
$725,000 |
$485,000 |
$240,000 |
$605,000 |
| 1990 |
Dan Petry |
11.072 |
$1,350,000 |
$650,000 |
$700,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| 1990 |
Juan Samuel |
7.041 |
$1,750,000 |
$1,400,000 |
$350,000 |
$1,575,000 |
| 1990 |
Dickie Thon |
11.012 |
$1,700,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$450,000 |
$1,475,000 |
| 1990 |
Fernando Valenzuela |
8.000 |
$2,700,000 |
$2,400,000 |
$300,000 |
$2,550,000 |
| 1990 |
Max Venable Jr |
6.151 |
$475,000 |
$375,000 |
$100,000 |
$425,000 |
Source: Biz of Baseball research
 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey, as well as a contributor to FanGraphs and Forbes SportsMoney. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.
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