honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:28 a.m., Monday, January 19, 2009

MLB: Hernandez, Gonzalez settle arbitration cases

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK — Felix Hernandez received a sevenfold salary increase by avoiding arbitration and agreeing to a $3.8 million, one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Atlanta closer Mike Gonzalez ($3.45 million), New York Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez ($1,687,500) and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Repko ($500,000) also agreed to one-year deals.

The agreements were likely to be announced by the teams by Tuesday, when players and owners are set to exchange proposed figures in arbitration.

Four one-year deals were announced Monday. The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Kevin Gregg agreed at $4.2 million; the St. Louis Cardinals settled with right-hander Todd Wellemeyer $4.05 million) and outfielder Chris Duncan ($825,000); and Toronto agreed with right-hander Brandon League ($640,000).

Of the 111 players who filed for arbitration last Thursday, 12 had agreed to contracts by midday Monday. Among them were two who got big deals: Boston infielder Kevin Youkilis ($41,125,000 for four years on Friday) and Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels ($20.5 million for three years on Sunday).

In deals last Friday, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Darren Oliver agreed at $3,665,000 and Philadelphia pinch-hit specialist Greg Dobbs settled at $2.5 million over two years.

Hernandez made $540,000 last year, when the 22-year-old right-hander went 9-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 175 strikeouts.