“We’re happy to have the process over,” said CM Ron Collins. “It’s always an ugly thing to have to dissect a player’s time with the team. It’s also kind of grueling to have to get the whole package of data together in such a way as it tells the proper story. Our guys did a great job of it, though, so that was good to see. I hope in the future we can get together with Rob earlier and just kind of get things done.”
Thomas had hoped to recoup some of the losses he feels he incurred under an earlier contract, but that was not to be. Given that his numbers were down this season, it may have been unwise for him to think about this approach, but Thomas has not proven himself prone to wisdom. Fans weren’t particularly sympathetic to either side, some noting that the difference between $3.85M and $4.5M is the difference between “95 times my salary and 110 times my salary.” This was usually accompanied by a roll of the eyes and then a frown or a shrug.
“It’s over,” Thomas said in a phone interview after the judgement. “We’ll just leave it at that and go on.”
The team expects Thomas will report for spring training in good shape, and plans to use him and Alejandro Rodriguez once again as platoon mates at third base.
