What is arbitration?
 

In franchise I was scrolling through my team's budget and I noticed for many of my player's salary for next year it says ARB. What is arbitration and how does that affect my budget and the player? Thanks.


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Re: What is arbitration?
 

When a player goes into arbitration, basically the player submits the salary he thinks he deserves, the team submits the salary they think he deserves, and an independent arbitrator decides which one he receives after hearing arguments from both sides.

Re: What is arbitration?
 

To add on to what phantomshark said, it is possible to reach a contract before the arbitration date, but if one is not reached, then whatever the arbitrator decides will be a one year contract. The team then has the choice to pay the contract or let the player go. If let go, the player then becomes a free agent.

Arbitration is spread out over February.

Re: What is arbitration?
 

The other two posters summed it up pretty well already but I'll add my insight.

Players that can be arbitration eligible are players that have 3 years of major league playing time. Occasionally players with 2 years of major league playing time (called "Super Two's") can also be arbitration eligible. Basically, the player (and in real life his agent, obviously) and the team meet with an arbitrator. The player presents his case on his worth and the team presents theirs. More and more often teams try to avoid arbitration and try to just find a deal before it comes to that point, but arbitration cases still happen.

Personally I always try to find a deal before it gets to arbitration. For example, if I think Player A is worth $2,000,000 and he thinks he's worth $3,000,000 I'll try to find a middle ground. Arbitration can get weird sometimes so I try to avoid it if possible. Hope that made sense.

Re: What is arbitration?
 

I had a situation tonight where I offered Manny Machado 10mil in arbitration. In February, it said he "won his case and would be paid 9.4 mil". Made zero sense...

Re: What is arbitration?
 

I sent that issue to sds couple years ago. I think it's a way the system "cheats" to keep their budget.

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Re: What is arbitration?
 

Exactly why I said in my post, "Arbitration gets weird sometimes." Especially in a video game.

Re: What is arbitration?
 

A couple clarifications -- "whatever the arbitrator decides" MUST be one of the two salaries presented. There's no splitting the difference, I suppose so that neither side presents unrealistic numbers .

In the game (not sure about real life) you cannot pass on signing once arbitration has been decided. The winning salary is "announced" and the player is "signed."