Nationals, 4 players exchange arbitration figures
January 22nd, 2009 Posted in MLB baseball newsThird baseman Ryan Zimmerman and the Washington Nationals were $1,15 million apart when they exchanged figures Tuesday for his first time through baseball’s arbitration system.
The Nationals traded numbers with four players, including left-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham, who like Zimmerman are headed to arbitration for the first time.
Zimmerman hit .283 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs in 428 at-bats last season and is hoping to get a raise from $465,000 to $3.9 million. The Nationals submitted a figure of $2.75 million.
Olsen asked for $3.5 million in arbitration; Washington offered $2.5 million. Willingham asked for $3.6 million; Washington offered $2.55 million. Olsen and Willingham, acquired from the Florida Marlins in a trade in November, both earned $405,000 last season.
Olsen went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA, throwing 201 2-3 innings across 33 starts in 2008 for Florida, while Willingham batted .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs in only 351 at-bats.
Right-handed starter Shawn Hill, 1-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 12 starts in 2008, asked for a raise from $402,000 to $775,000, while the Nationals offered $500,000.
