MLB Salary Arbitration: Posey, Heyward, Ellsbury Headline 2013 List

Buster Posey, Jason Heyward and Jacoby Ellsbury  headline a list of 133 players that filed for salary arbitration according to the Major League Baseball Players Association. Players who filed for arbitration are considered signed for the coming season and most cases are settled before the arbitration actually takes place. Last year 142 players filed for arbitration, and only seven cases reached an actual hearing. Hearings this year will take place between February 4 and February 20.

Posey made $615,000 last season and led the National League in hitting, wonthe National League MVP and figures to receive a significant raise in salary for 2013.. MLB Trade Rumors projects a $5.9 million salary for Posey in 2013. The team is expected to begin talks on an extension  with Posey soon. The Giants like many other teams in Major League Baseball have tried to control player costs by signing younger arbitration eligible players to multiyear deals. Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner and Pablo Sandoval were all signed during their arbitration years.

Heyward posted career highs of 27 home runs, 30 doubles, six triples, 82 RBI, and .479 slugging percentage, while playing in 158 games for the Braves last season. Heyward is projected to make $3.5 million in 2013 and is under team control for three more years.

The Boston Red Sox led all major league teams with nine players filing including Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, Craig Breslow,  Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Ellsbury made $8.05 million last year and an injury in 2012 will prevent him from tripling his salary as he did in 2011. Ellsbury is represented by Scott Boras which could work in Elsberry’s favor.

The San Diego Padres had eight players file with Chase Headley leading the list and joined by catcher John Baker, shortstop Everth Cabrera, Headley, outfielder Will Venable and pitchers Luke Gregerson, Joe Thatcher, Clayton Richard and Edinson Volquez. Headley could be due a substantial raise over the $3.475 million he earned in 2012. Headley finished fifth in National League MVP voting and led the National League with 115 RBI, and added the Silver slugger Award and Golden Glove Award in the off-season.