GAME OF ARBITRATION
Jays, Donaldson make case
Toronto All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson and Miami pitcher David Phelps have argued salary arbitration cases with their new teams before three-person panels.
Donaldson asked Steven Wolf, Robert Herzog and Gary Kendellen for $5,725,000 on Thursday, and the Blue Jays offered $4.3 million.
Phelps requested $1,875,000 from Mark Burstein, Dennis Archer and Sylvia Skratek, and the Marlins made their case for $1.4 million. Decisions are likely Friday. Players and teams have split six decisions, and the eight cases that have gone to hearings are the most since clubs went 5-3 in 2010.
The 29-year-old Donaldson hit .255 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 158 games last season for Oakland and was traded to Toronto in December for third baseman Brett Lawrie, left-hander Sean Nolin, right-hander Kendall Graveman and minor league shortstop Franklin Barreto. In four seasons with the A’s, he has a .268 average with 63 homers and 228 RBI.
Phelps, a 28-year-old right-hander, was 5-5 with a 4.38 ERA in 17 starts and 15 relief appearances for the New York Yankees last year. He was traded to Miami in December along with versatile Martin Prado for right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, outfielder Garrett Jones and a minor leaguer.
Donaldson earned the $500,000 minimum last year, and Phelps made $541,425.
New San Francisco third baseman Casey McGehee agreed to a $4.8 million, one-year contract and avoided arbitration.
Eleven players remain scheduled for hearings, including Kansas City reliever kelvin Herrera, who has an agreement on a $4.15 million, twoyear deal that is pending a physical. One more hearing will mark the most since teams were 8-6 in 2001.