tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276907225428640229.post7717272327324193076..comments2023-08-10T11:13:40.712-04:00Comments on This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes: Money for Arbitration, but not for Free AgentsRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08099918567255772685noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276907225428640229.post-43389684233023815952009-01-22T07:09:00.000-05:002009-01-22T07:09:00.000-05:00I was under the impression that arbitration was FO...I was under the impression that arbitration was FOR younger players. S'far as I know, you have to have a certain number of years of MLB service (6 years I think) in order to be eligible for free agency. Before then, if your contract runs out, you go to arbitration unless a team refuses to offer it to you. Afterwards, it's not available and you have to become a free agent (for example, I don't think Abreu or Griffey Jr. were arbitration eligible).<BR/><BR/>Why is the money still way up for arbitration? Well, once offered arbitration, teams will HAVE to sign that player. So if they offer a ridiculously low amount, they will lose their case and have to pay the high amount the player requested. And since, as you mentioned before, a lot of the arbitration eligible players are younger and better than the remaining free agents, the money amounts will be higher.<BR/><BR/>Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about that rule.Coryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480686232622502438noreply@blogger.com