O’s decision not to offer Koji arbitration is mind-boggling
Koji Uehara is a type B agree agent. He made $5 million in 2010. If the Orioles offer Koji arbitration and he declines, they would get a supplemental draft pick, which is a pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds in the amateur draft.
If he accepts arbitration, he would likely be due anywhere from 5-7 million for 2011, with the 7 likely being a bit on the high side.
So, if the Orioles decide to offer him arbitration, they either A) end up with Koji Uehara for 1 year and a slight raise over 2010, B) sign him to a their own deal ,or C) receive a pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2011 draft
Yesterday, word came out that the Orioles decided not to offer Koji Uehara arbitration.
Huh?
Again, the worst thing that can happen by offering Koji arbitration is that he comes back to the Orioles for a couple more million bucks than they would prefer to pay him. That’s it.
Of course, the O’s could still reach an agreement wth Koji and bring him back on their own terms. Perhaps they are extremely confident that they will be able to do just that.
Having said that, they have no idea if there is a team out there willing to overpay Koji. What if the Tigers or the Mets swoop in and offer him 2/15? Clearly, by declining to offer Koji arbitration, the O’s have shown that they would not match that deal.
So, in that scenario, Koji departs, and the O’s leave a supplemental draft pick on the table, all to save a few million in case he accepts arbitration.
And even if Koji did accept, he would still be on the team and would more than likely be the closer. That isn’t a bad thing!
1-2 million bucks for one year isn’t going to hamper Andy MacPhail in any way. It’s absurd to suggest otherwise.
So what gives with this decision? Even if it turns out to be a non-issue, with Koji returning to the O’s after agreeing to a new deal, the decision to not offer Koji arbitration shows that Andy MacPhail really isn’t as on top of things as O’s fans would like him to be.
