Today’s the day where both sides exchange/announce arbitration figures, and since everyone has to commit to a number, they can figure out how close they are and how willing they are to just split the difference and get it done.
Done:
Corey – 1 year, haven’t heard terms
Kyle – 1 year, >$2mil (slight increase over last year)
Still left:
A-Ram (trying to work out a deal – something along the lines of 3 to 5 for $8 to $10)
Barrett
Zambrano
I think Hendry wants to get these done now for sanity reasons, but it also helps if he goes to the Cubs Convention if he could say “I didn’t break the bank to go after Beltran/whoever because I was sure we’d have to break the bank to keep the team together – and look, we DID.”
Barrett and Carlos are due in for the Cubs Convention this week, so they may get something done. I think Z’s going to be the hardest one, though, because you’ve got the pitcher looking back at a top level performance versus the managment looking back at young pitchers who flame out after top level performances.