Every year we go through this. "Big Star Might Go To Arbitration, Where His Team Will Call Him a Non-Productive Doodyhead" Every year, the players settle before going to arbitration, and we are surprised for some reason. This time it's David Ortiz, via Buster Olney:
Sources: There is a settlement in the David Ortiz case, for the midpoint of $14.575 m. He had wanted 16.5m, club had offered 12.65m.
That is the exact midpoint. Makes me wish that the Red Sox had offered him $12,650,000.01, which would have led to the two sides still exchanging angry e-mails about who should pick up the extra penny.
Ortiz had one of his best seasons for the Red Sox, posting a 154 OPS+ and a .309/.398/.554 slash line. His salary for 2012 will be the largest salary he's received in his 16 seasons in the majors. It's possible that he could have received a two-year deal for well over $20 million if he had left, and his decision to accept arbitration was a bit of a surprise. But considering that he'll make close to $15 million and still be a free agent after the season, I'd say he made a pretty savvy move.
