http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck/2009/01/orioles_sherrill_hearing_sched.html
I agree with Schmuck that this is likely settled prior to the scheduled Feb. 19th arbitration hearing.
Paul DePodesta – Currently an Asst to the GM in San Diego, a former General Manager of the LA Dodgers, Asst. GM of the Oakland A’s, and most importantly intern with the Baltimore Stallions, recently had a common sense take on why you want to avoid arbitration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_DePodesta
http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/2009/01/heath-bell-and-arbitration.html
“Today we announced an agreement on a one-year deal with Heath Bell, thereby avoiding the arbitration process. This was our final arbitration eligible player for this winter, as we’ve reached agreements with Scott Hairston, Jody Gerut, and Luis Rodriguez in the past few weeks (I say “we” but the bulk of work was really done by Jeff Kingston, our Director of Baseball Operations).
The result is that the Padres won’t be involved in any of the arbitration cases next month. In fact, we didn’t even get to the point of exchanging filing numbers with any of our players.Arbitration is never a pleasant (or terribly productive) exercise for the parties involved, which is probably why fewer than 10% of the potential cases ever see the hearing room.
The system is pretty straight forward:
The Player and the Club submit filing numbers, which are then exchanged a few weeks in advance of a hearing.
The player and the Club may continue to negotiate (in fact, they can strike a deal all the way up to and even AFTER the hearing if it’s before the decision).
If no agreement is reached, the parties will go into a hearing in front of a panel of three arbitrators.
Both sides present their case to the panel and follow up with a round of rebuttals and a round of surrebuttals.
The panel deliberates for up to 24 hours before rendering a decision.
The panel has two choices – the Player’s number or the Club’s numbers – there is no middle ground.
Among other things, these hearings can: cost time, cost money, create animosity, and take both the Player and the Club away from Spring Training.
The system is far from perfect, but for all of the aforementioned reasons the current structure does a reasonable job as a deterrent. Regardless, it’s nice to go another year without a case. Thanks, Jeff.”
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.