As usual, the Indians have failed to wow the baseball world with their offseason spending, but as expected, their payroll spiked by millions because of the arbitration process.
Five of seven arbitration-eligible players came to terms on one-year contracts Tuesday, but the threat of arbitration to the club raised the payroll by $8,072,000 without adding a player.
Justin Masterson received the biggest raise, from $468,000 to $3,825,000 after posting a 12-10 record and 3.21 ERA, 12th best in the American League. He could easily have won 15-17 games if not for pathetic run support.
Shin-Soo Choo’s year was ruined by a DUI conviction that seemed to affect his focus and by two injuries: a broken thumb and a strained oblique that cost him almost half the season.
Nevertheless, despite batting .259 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 313 at-bats, Choo received a raise to $4.9 million, $925,000 more than he made in 2011.
Chris Perez lifted his salary from $2,225,000 to $4.5 million after saving 36 games in 40 opportunities and posting a 4-7 record and 3.32 ERA in his first full year as a closer.
Sidearmer Joe Smith, who also had a banner season in the bullpen, negotiated a raise to $1.75 million after making $870,000 last year, when he was 3-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 71 appearances. He gave up only 52 hits and one home run in 67 innings.
Jack Hannahan was signed as a utility infielder last winter but ended up as the semi-regular third baseman (Lonnie Chisenhall displaced him for much of the second half), playing superbly on defense and contributing several key hits. Hannahan batted .250 with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 320 at-bats. Hannahan’s salary went from $870,000 in 2011 to $1,135,000 million.
All the deals were consummated Tuesday, the day that arbitration-eligible players exchanged salaries with their teams. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and left-handed reliever Rafael Perez were the only two Tribe players still pursuing the arbitration process, though they might come to terms before a hearing.
Last year, Perez earned $1,330,000, and Cabrera made $2,025,000 and went on to have a breakout season, batting .273 with 25 home runs and 92 RBI to become the club’s No. 1 offensive player.
Whether Perez and Cabrera sign contracts before an arbitrator decides their cases or come to terms earlier, it’s clear the Indians’ payroll will receive another jolt of at least $4 million.
On Opening Day last year, the Tribe’s payroll was $49.4 million. If the team does not add another player, the Opening Day payroll this season is likely to be at least $65 million.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians. Follow Beacon Journal sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
