No arbitration for Pettitte, Abreu

[Lil Bit Special]

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/28123-no-arbitration-for-pettitte-abreu

The Yankees will not offer arbitration to free agents Andy Pettitte and Bobby Abreu, SI.com has learned. The Yankees did not want to chance taking either player to arbitration since both players made $16 million in 2008 and stood to make even more than that in arbitration. Both players can still re-sign with the Yankees though only Pettitte appears to have a good chance to do so.

Both Pettitte and Abreu had been classified as a Type A free agent, which would have given the Yankees two draft picks if either departed: the first round selection of whichever team signs the player and a supplemental pick at the end of the first round. But because the Yankees declined to offer either player arbitration, they gave up a chance to win a draft pick from the signing team.

[DaBrick Wall]

That makes no sense. Now they can't even get the draft picks. WTF is this FO doing? Having Bobby or Pettitte back under mildly-expensive one-year contracts would be a good thing.

[war ensemble]

If they're in talks with Petitte, they should've offered him arbitration. Stupid, stupid FO.

[uart]

They are budgeting to spend big on free agency (CC + whoever), and need to keep other costs under control. Abreu and Pettite at $16million each is at least $12million more than they are willing to budget for those two. That's why they did it.

The economy sucks, teams may not be spending. Arbitration, however, almost never results in a lower salary for the player. At least for Pettite, the best financial decision would have been to accept arbitration and request $16million. He'd likely get it.