ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals extended salary arbitration to three of their four free agents before last night's deadline.
The "Post-Dispatch" reports outfielder Matt Holliday, third baseman Mark DeRosa and pitcher Joel Pineiro were all offered arbitration by the club.
Holliday, who is a Type A, free agent, was a no-brainer as he would bring back a first-round and a supplemental draft pick if he signs with another team.. Less certain was the Cardinals' willingness to gamble on DeRosa and Pieneiro accepting arbitration and netting hefty raises to remain with the Redbirds next season.
By offering arbitration, the Cards would get draft pick compensation should they sign elsewhere. Players have until December 7th to accept or reject arbitration.
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Big names available without compensation...Indians send Shoppach to Tampa Bay.
UNDATED - The deadline has passed for major league teams to offer salary arbitration to their free agents or risk losing them without compensation.
The New York Yankees declined to offer arbitration to outfielder Johnny Damon, pitcher Andy Pettitte and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. The Dodgers did likewise with second baseman Orlando Hudson and pitcher Randy Wolf.
Because all five are Type A players under the free-agent rankings, their former teams would have received two draft picks if they had been offered arbitration and then signed with new clubs.
Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada, Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco and White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye are among several other Type A free agents who weren't offered arbitration.
Those who received offers include Boston outfielder Jason Bay, Angels third baseman Chone Figgins and Halos hurler John Lackey.
- The Cleveland Indians have pulled off a deal with Tampa Bay, sending catcher Kelly Shoppach to the Rays for a player to be named. Shoppach batted just .214 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 89 games this year, striking out 89 times in 271 at-bats.
- The Phillies also acquired a catcher, working out a two-year package with free-agent Brian Schneider. The 33-year-old Schneider hit .218 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 59 games last season.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers have confirmed 82-year-old broadcaster Vin Scully will return to the booth in 2010. Scully's 60 years of service is the longest tenure of any broadcaster in sports history, according to the Dodgers.
