Bobby Beat 2005 v1: Offseason Wrap: Arb results

[jiminyhopkins]

Washington, DC--

As the offseason began, the Bobs went to arbitration hearings with 5 of their young players. Here's how the results came down:

1B Darius Campbell, Jr., finally getting a full time gig last season, is getting paid like an everyday player. After hitting .322 with 18 homers in 106 games, Campbell convinced the arbitrator of the merits of his case and walked away with a salary of $3,781,250.

MR Aurelio Rodriguez had a down season. After recording a 3.46 ERA in his breakout year of 2003, A-Rod regressed badly in 2004 as his ERA nearly doubled. The middle reliver had asked for a salary well in excess of a million dollars, but ended up with the team's figure of $950,000.

SP Dominick Bromley came over from Phoenix with good stuff and high expectations. He was vexed by the hitters environment in DC and his ERA balooned above 5, even though he struck out nearly 200 batters. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the team, and DomBrom will have to make do with $490,000.

RF Vince Valiant, the Bobs' power hitting outfield backup, played errorless defense at all three OF positions and even jacked 15 bombs in just under 250 AB in 2004. But in the cold, hard world of salary arbitration, it wasn't enough as Valiant walked away from the table with the team's suggested amount of $470,000.

SP/RP Larry Marts has pretty much done whatever the team has asked for in his career, even starting full time despite having the endurance of a reliever. With the aquisition of SP Chip Foodie last season, Marts was moved to the bullpen and pitched in long relief. He finished up with the highest ERA of his career, and the club sought to reduce his raise, but the good and fair arbitrator saw past the team's callous ways and rewarded Marts for his service thus far. Larry will pocket $756,250 for his trouble.

In other news, free agents-to-be Chase Pack and Don Robinson were offered salary arbitration by the Bobbies, but they declined and entered the free agent market.

[salas]

Washington, DC--

MR Aurelio Rodriguez had a down season. After recording a 3.46 ERA in his breakout year of 2003, A-Rod regressed badly in 2004 as his ERA nearly doubled. The middle reliver had asked for a salary well in excess of a million dollars, but ended up with the team's figure of $950,000.

Well, no wonder he had a down season...he's a third baseman by trade...and he died in 2000, thanks to some idiot.

Interesting factoid, from Wikipedia: "There have been three players in major league history named Aurelio (two of whom played for the Detroit Tigers), and all three were killed in car accidents between the ages of 44 and 53. See also Aurelio López and Aurelio Monteagudo."