It's time for Arbitration 101, first class is, it's not what you deserve, it's what the other guy made before you.
That is the universal flaw with arbitration because you do not have have to excel at your job, you have to find someone, or someones that play your position, and make sure they make more money than you, and if your stats are comparable to yours, BINGO, you just hit the Lottery.
What will happen if the Jays do not sign Jose Bautista to a 3 or 4 year deal ?
Oh c'mon, venture a guess.
They go to Arbitration Land, where the payoff can be very big, and the real bonus becomes that after 2011 season he becomes a free agent. So there is incentive then to have a real solid year, because if he smacks 40 home runs, his 54 hr season is really no fluke. Because how many players hit at least 40 home runs in 2010. Go ahead, go to MLB web sites, ESPN to see. I'll wait...................oh you're back, the internet is fast sometimes. What, just one other player hit 40 or more home runs, and his name is Albert Pujols Frankly I am shocked. Konerko hit 39, but I said 40, didn't I ?
So a 14 home run drop off let's say for 2011 puts him in Pujols class, now you are getting the picture in Hi Def.
If the Toronto Blue Jays let this guy get to arbitration, and they lose, and Jose get's his $ 10 million award, two things emerge.
1. The Jays lose a lot of momentum in signing him long term
2. He will file for Free Agency, because boys and girls, Pujols will get 6, 7 yrs at $ 125, to $ 140 million, give or take.
Am I saying that Bautista is equal to Pujols, of course not. Jose plays the outfield, and 3rd base, Albert plays first only. Jose is what 30 years old and Albert Pujols is how old....30 years old, Albert last year drove in 118 runs , and what did Jose do, oh..124 ribbies.
See I know the batting averages are different, but that's why Bautista will not make $ 25 million a year s Albert will. But if he hits 40 homers, a 10 % or more drop in power, he still puts up solid ( POST PED ) power stats.
You know what I just did with this don't you, it's an arbitration technique, and I am just an internet geek, and ball fan, I am not Scott Boras, or some other super agent, with reams of comparables, and I took one guy, who had a very good year and compared his lowered stats to Jose, and well, the Jays had better either settle on a contract extension, or they will lose their case, and possibly the 54 home run slugger.
Oh, I believe he loves playing in Toronto, and he loved playing for Cito, but Cito is gone, and the organization perhaps has not entirely bought the argument that Jose is legit. They offered him a decent 1 year deal, but they should consider getting his name on a 4 year deal at $ 10 large per, or worse than that, he will have an even better year, and decide to hit the market place right beside Albert Pujols, and look very attractive as an alternate to all the teams that do not sign Pujols. Because 29 teams will not get Albert, that I am sure of.
I see a lot of green beside this white line. I am guessing that Jose Bautista sees a lot potential green too !
Hopefully it is not greener pastures elsewhere.
It is Arbitration Time, and it Russian Roulette for Toronto if they play and lose, so find the number, and sign this guy.
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