The Cleveland Indians have not been involved in the arbitration process since the early 1990’s when Jerry Browne took the club through the procedure. This year, two Tribe players are eligible, Rafael Betancourt and Casey Blake, both key members of last year’s Central Division champions. Betancourt is looking for a multi-year deal in the range of $2-3 million per year, reportedly. That seems reasonable.
However, Blake’s request for almost $7 million per year could mean he has played his last game in a Tribe uniform. A team with the Indians revenue stream simply cannot pay an “average” player like Casey Blake that kind of money. Last year, the third baseman hit .270 with 18 HR and 78 RBI’s. He had an OPS of 776, where 800 is considered an above average offensive player. These numbers are right in line with his career averages of 20 HR, 73 RBI, and a .262 batting average.
The strategy of teams not in Boston, Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles is not have a few highly paid perennial all-star type players, and fill out the rest of the roster with products of the farm system. These young players are compensated at or around the major league minimum salary. Think of the Minnesota Twins (Santana, Mauer, Morneau, Hunter, Nathan) as this model. They won four division titles from 2002-2006 with this method.
What you have to stay away from is paying the average guys a boatload of money. The players like Casey Blake. This is not to take away what Blake has done for the Tribe over the years, including 2007. He arrived as a third baseman, shifted to right field when Aaron Boone was signed before the ’05 season, went to 1B/RF when Andy Marte was acquired, and then back to third when Marte didn’t hit. He’s a tremendous teammate, a guy who will do whatever it takes to help the team.
But, he’s not worth paying almost $7 million per year. Giving Blake this kind of money would hamper their efforts to sign C.C. Sabathia, or to pay Victor Martinez when he enters the free agent phase of his career. It also might inhibit Mark Shapiro from getting the piece he needs down the stretch of a pennant race. I understand Eric Wedge likes Blake, but his respect of the player has to have limits, and that kind of money should be the stopping point.
It’s just business. The Indians can’t pay Blake that kind of money, and his numbers show he’s not worth that kind of cash, despite the rampant salary escalation in baseball. Even if the ball club splits the difference between their offer and Blake’s request, he still would make over $5 million per year. If I were Mark Shapiro, I’d see what the market is for his starting third baseman in 2007. Payroll flexibility is more important to the Tribe than being a good teammate. They can find one of those for half of that price.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 