Yankees don't offer arbitration to Matsui, Damon, Pettitte
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees failed to offer salary arbitration to World Series MVP Hideki Matsui along with outfielder Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte, ahead of a Tuesday night deadline.
The decisions mean the Yankees will not receive draft pick compensation if any of the players sign elsewhere.
Tuesday at midnight (et) marks the deadline for teams to offer salary arbitration to their own players to receive possible draft compensation. Players who are offered arbitration have until the conclusion of December 7 to accept the offers. If a player accepts, he is considered a signed player and the parties can either negotiate a new contract or ultimately allow an arbitration panel to determine the salary. If a player rejects arbitration, the club can continue to negotiate with the player, and there is no longer a deadline in which both parties have to reach an agreement.
The Colorado Rockies offered salary arbitration to two of their free agents: right-handed pitchers Rafael Betancourt and Jason Marquis, while declining offers to pitcher Joe Beimel and catcher Yorvit Torrealba. The Rangers did the same for catcher Ivan Rodriguez and outfielder Marlon Byrd.
Some other players offered salary arbitration were Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre, Houston pitcher Jose Valverde, Oakland pitcher Justin Duchscherer, St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday, Angels third baseman Chone Figgins and pitcher John Lackey, and Detroit pitchers Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney.
The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't offer arbitration to pitcher Randy Wolf and second baseman Orlando Hudson.