Several big names remain in arbitration
While dozens of players agreed to contracts Friday, Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies remained $3 million apart in negotiations.
The 2006 N.L. MVP asked the Phillies for a $10 million contract in salary arbitration, and Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez requested $12.5 million when players and teams swapped figures on a busy day in baseball.
A flurry of deals was completed just before the afternoon exchange of numbers. Matt Holliday, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Morneau, Carlos Pena and Scott Kazmir were among the stars who avoided arbitration.
In all, 62 of the 110 players who filed for arbitration Tuesday settled on terms before the swap of figures, including 35 who reached agreements Friday.
Baltimore ace Erik Bedard asked for $8 million, while the Orioles proposed $6 million. Houston reliever Jose Valverde, the major league leader with 47 saves last season for Arizona, requested $6.2 million and was offered $4.7 million by the Astros.
The New York Yankees ($640,000) and reliever Brian Bruney ($845,000) had the smallest difference.
Besides Holliday, Kansas City first baseman Ross Gload was the only other player to get a multiyear deal ($3.2 million over two years).
Seven teams do not have any players left in arbitration: the Chicago White Sox, Detroit, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Texas, Arizona and Florida. The New York Mets have the most remaining (five).
Stymied in its attempts to trade for an ace pitcher, Seattle agreed with left-hander Horacio Ramirez on a $2.75 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.
Clemens will give deposition
Roger Clemens will give Congress a deposition or transcribed interview next Saturday in advance of the House hearing where the pitcher and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, are to testify.
Letters were sent to Clemens, McNamee and three other people by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis.
Tejada expected in spring
Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade anticipates Miguel Tejada to be at spring training, even as the FBI investigates whether the former A.L. MVP made false statements with to a congressional committee about possible use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The Astros acquired Tejada on Dec. 12 in a trade that sent five players to Baltimore. The day after the trade was announced, Tejada was implicated in steroids use in the Mitchell Report.