When a player and club go to arbitration the only decision is about money, right? Just a dollar figure? Are there any sidebar issues for an arbitrator to rule on?

And rec’d.

I don’t consider Theriot “greedy” – that seems like lazy analysis. I do think he’s overvaluing himself, though I’m sure he has his reasons.

I think at times people lose track of the business part, and that this is his job. I think it gets lost in the emotion of being a fan. I don’t think anyone here, whether you work in an office or on an assembly line wouldn’t want to maximize their wage. You’d simply be foolish not to. Theriot is not a NFL player holding out, he is simply asking for what he feels he is worth. I think labeling him greedy would be appropriate if the difference between the two sides was a substantially large number. Ask yourself this: doesn’t everyone overvalue themselves at work?

There is nothing wrong with trying to get what you can. This is the system and Theriot is working within it. It is a lot different than a player under contract holding out for a renegotiated contract.

By the way, Theriot is basically asking for the same salary that the Cubs just gave a 4th outfielder. He might have a case.

I misguided my irritation. Thanks again.

and then make a case for Prior to ask for money of teams as well?

I agree 100% DGU

Hmmm, left field comes to mind to me.

…and they don’t want him digging in any deeper than he has to.

I think the Theriot situation is tolerable at under $4 million annually. If you can keep him under $3 mil this season, you should be able to keep him under $4 mil for the next two, allowing the Cubs a chance to work Castro in as a long-term solution. Theriot becomes really complicated next off-season, as $3.6 this season likely gets him close to $5 mil next. I don’t think they’d pay that, and would have to go looking for alternatives.

Short answer is that I don’t think it’s an ego check, just a subtle way of saying don’t get to comfortable in that spot.

…the player’s agents are negotiating contracts. (With the player’s blessing, of course.) It’s not as if Theriot is sitting in front of Jim Hendry.

So, “ego check” doesn’t apply. “Agent trying to get the most for his client” is appropriate.

I recognize that Theriot has value. SS is so shallow right now, that you almost have to take what you can get.

What I don’t like about Theriot is his endless self-promotion, which has cultivated this view of him where he “does all the little things right” when he actually has a very limited skill set. I also tend to think his defense is overrated by UZR and think 2007 and 2009 are closer reflections of his hitting ability than 2008. And that’s why I hate to see him installed at the top of the order.

But even if I quibble with that total WAR #, you’re right that it’s not going to drop down to the 1 WAR level, and Theriot will be worth more than he’s paid.

It’s just how the system works. I do agree with you that Theriot will provide us value if he signs anywhere in the range between what the Cubs offered and what he wants. However, paying him something closer to full value (using WAR as the metric) would set a bad precedent for the Cubs and all other teams across baseball trying to keep young players in a cost-controlled state.

Now, you could definitely argue that the entire system of player control on young guys is unfair, and I wouldn’t disagree with you. I just don’t want to see our Cubs team facing payroll issues to be the one to set any sort of precedent on the issue.

Theriot is worth more than people give him credit for and I think because they compare him to Jeter…

The guy is a first ballot HOF’er… He is the best… so yeah, Theriot looks like
chopped liver in comparison… but he’s NOT scraping the bottom of the barrel by any means…

Theriot: starting ML SS, who will only occasionally platoon with other players.

Nady: 4th OF, who will get playing time based upon the platoon system.

Heck, they don’t even play the same position.

I believe, in the business world, when two sides agree to resolve a dispute via an arbitrator rather than going to court, they have the option of the settling on a midpoint. But I’m no attorney.

Now you’re talking about signing a free agent SS for 1 year, who will probably cost more than Theriot is asking for. And you’ll only get a marginal upgrade over Theriot, a player who’s rights you still control.

And if you’re that free agent (or his agent) and you see a one year deal from the Cubs and keep hearing about this Castro kid in the AZ fall league, you can see the writing on the wall. Why would you step into that situation?

I don’t this as a realistic option.

Maybe you did. But the Cubs didn’t Not with his OBP in 2008. And not with Pie’s 2008 performance.

No, the outfield was an easier place to try to get LH power. And that what the Cubs wanted after 2008. Not just left handed, but left handed power. It might have worked out with Abreu.

See this article from Hardball Times. About 25-30% chance now for a switch-hitting SS. There’s another article about LH handed hitting and throwing SS – very rare.

Remember that the Cubs did have Theriot try switch-hitting for at least one minor league season.

I hope Theriot doesn’t automatically get to be top of the 2B depth chart when Castro comes up just because he’s the only one that can play SS.