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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

BASEBALL: Zambrano asks for huge raise


Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano wants a $15.5 million one-year deal. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

NEW YORK – Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano asked for a raise to $15.5 million while batting champions Joe Mauer and Freddy Sanchez also sought big hikes in salary arbitration Tuesday.

A.L. MVP Justin Morneau and Florida star Miguel Cabrera looked to cash in, too, as 56 players exchanged figures with their teams.

Zambrano went 16-7 for the Cubs last year and made $6.65 million. He was offered $11,025,000 by Chicago and is eligible for free agency after the season. Both his request and the club’s offer were the highest numbers traded this year.

Cabrera, eligible for arbitration for the first time, asked for a raise from $472,000 to $7.4 million and was offered $6.7 million by the Marlins.

Mauer, who hit .347 to become the first catcher to win the A.L. batting title, requested a raise from $400,000 to $4.5 million, and the Minnesota Twins offered $3.3 million.

Morneau, who batted .321 with 34 homers and 130 RBIs, asked the Twins for a raise from $385,000 to $5 million. He was offered $4 million.

Sanchez hit .344 for Pittsburgh to win his first batting crown and asked the Pirates to increase his salary from $342,000 to $3.1 million. Pittsburgh offered him $2.15 million.

If players and teams don’t settle, three-person arbitration panels will select their salaries next month.

Forty players settled Tuesday.

Among those reaching agreements were Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez ($7 million), Houston reliever Brad Lidge ($5.35 million), Detroit outfielder Craig Monroe ($4,775,000), Chicago White Sox third baseman Joe Crede ($4.94 million), Colorado outfielder Matt Holliday ($4.4 million), Philadelphia center fielder Aaron Rowand ($4.35 million), Texas outfielder Brad Wilkerson ($4.35 million), Colorado pitcher Rodrigo Lopez ($4,325,000), Cincinnati pitcher Kyle Lohse ($4.2 million) and Oakland outfielder Milton Bradley ($4 million).

Zambrano’s $4,475,000 gap was the largest, followed by Arizona and left-hander Doug Davis at $2.25 million. The smallest difference was $90,000 between outfielder Alex Escobar ($590,000) and Washington ($500,000), a case that likely would cost more to take to a hearing than the difference between the sides.