Kazmir planning for arbitration

Ace Scott Kazmir expects to end up in arbitration against the Rays.

Even though negotiations are expected to continue until Friday's team-imposed noon deadline, Kazmir said Thursday night he is preparing for a deal to not be reached.

That meant spending Thursday afternoon in California with agents Greg Genske and Brian Peters going over their case and going through a mock hearing so Kazmir, arbitration eligible for the first time, could get familiar with the sometimes contentious process. "We won,'' Kazmir said.

Kazmir said he would prefer to have his contract situation resolved, but understood going through arbitration was part of the business side of the game. Though hearings don't take place until February, the Rays have a team policy to cease negotiations once salary figures are filed, which takes place at noon Friday.

"All we can do is really prepare ourselves because they have the file and trial policy,'' Kazmir said. "I guess you just gotta go. They made it loud and clear. ...

"If we go to arbitration, which it kind of looks like right now, so be it. It's just what we have to do. Sure, it would be nice to have everything settled right now and not have anything to worry about.''

Kazmir, 24 next week, made $424,300 last season while going 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA and leading the AL with 239 strikeouts. He is in line to end up with a salary between $2-million and $4-million.

The Rays also plan to continue talks with 1B Carlos Pena, their other remaining arbitration eligible player. Pena, the team MVP and consensus AL Comeback Player of the Year, is in line to make $4.5-million to $7.5-million.

Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said he remains optimistic of reaching deals with both players, but said the team would stick to policy and "the system is there for a reason.''

If the cases go to a hearing, the arbitrator picks between the salary figures submitted by the team and by the player.

Comments

[BxSquad]

i dont think kazmir will sign with the rays, he's very young and talented, if he hits the free agent market or a couple of years when he is an free agent, he would get a better deal than the rays would offer * no offence to rays fans *

[Anon]

You can't really blame either side for not reaching an agreement yet. Any ace lefty would hesitate to sign a long-term deal. There will always be another team willing to pay more next year for your skills (as long as you're healthy, of course). And the Rays just doubled their payroll this offseason and can't afford to increase it another 25% for Scott. They'll save $4M going to arbitration.

[Ryan S]

Ryan Callahan,

I agree with you at this is the best offseason in franchise history but I dont think that signing Kazmir to a long term deal would be "throwing money" at him. He is one good season away from being the best lefty in baseball NOT named Santana. I'm ok with waiting until after the upcoming season, when we have him under control for 2 more years, to get him locked up into a 4 year deal with a player option for a 5th and club option for a 6th. Pena on the other hand I'm not sold he should get the 15mil per that Scott Boras says he should get. If someone wants to give him over 12 mil then they can have him. Plus, I think the Rays will draft the 3b from Vandy to replace Pena at 1st, which is where a lot of scouts see him playing. I hope the Rays have Price in the rotation by mid-season at the latest!

GO RAYS!!!

[ryan callahan]

I really hope that somehow we get these guys signed long-term. We did it with Crawford and that is working out, i think we should just for once and get them. Our front office has had the best offseason in franchise history, but i dont think that they are at the point where they will throw a lot of money at them. If i were them i would do anything possible to sign pena for at least 3 years with 2 option years and kazmir for at least 5 years with 2 option years.