The Hawaii Tropics end up in arbitration with Phil Thompson, Russ McHaney, Vincente Mendez and Bill Ritz. The team and player agents exchanged monetary figures and hearings were scheduled. The panel heard Hawaii Tropics lawyer John Milton’s arguments on each player and reps from CAA, Elite and the Boras Corporation.
“He gives up too many homers and swipes tootsie rolls from the manager’s office.”, Milton said of Phil Thompson.
Milton said, “McHaney hits with power but is fast without the ‘s’.”
“We don’t know who he is as a ballplayer. As a person he tells us who he thinks he is.”, was said of Mendez.
And finally, about Bill Ritz, “We would rather have the crackers.”
The panel ruled that Thompson was to receive the Tropics quoted $2,800,001. Thompson’s team had asked for $3,177,000. McHaney was awarded $1,100,000 that the team had asked for. CAA had asked for $1,160,500 for their client. Mendez won his arby hearing getting $1,863,200 after the team had offered $1,717,000. Bill Ritz was the big winner getting 1,407,000 after being offered 800,001 by the Trops.
Hawaii GM Jim Walker said, “Every time you go to arbitration you lose.”
In other news, The Tropics bid farewell to longtime second baseman Adhyapayana Mehta as he hits free agency. In his 11 years as a Tropic, he is 4th in hits, 2nd in doubles, 4th in runs, 5th in triples, and 3rd in stolen bases.
Walker said, “He has been a good player for us, but he’s shown some decline, and I would rather cut bait now than later.”
The Tropics continue their search for a hitting coach for AA Carson City.
“There’s some competition for coaches now and we’re having some problems filling this spot.”, said Walker
