On one hand, the first-year Red Sox general manager wants to appease star veteran David Ortiz with a contract. But on the flipside, Cherington wants to achieve that goal at the right price, submitting a $12.65 million price tag to the arbitration committee.
Although it’s a slight raise from 2011, Ortiz countered with a massive $16.5 million request. Considering the arbiters can only rule in favor of one party, Cherington may be receiving a rude awakening to the lose-lose dilemmas in arbitration cases.
Cherington, of course, still has time to salvage the situation. If the Red Sox and Ortiz can reach terms on a contract before the scheduled hearing –– the date is currently unknown –– they will be able to avoid the contentious proceedings.
If not, it’ll be the first time that Boston would go to arbitration since 2002. Back then, the player was right-handed pitcher Rolando Arrojo, who was light years away from Ortiz’s superstar status with the Red Sox.
And it could get ugly. To justify a case in arbitration hearings, the Red Sox organization would have to provide reasons to support why Ortiz doesn’t deserve the extra money.
You can only imagine the explanations –– age, declining potential and Ortiz’s defensive limitations that have forced him almost exclusively into a designated hitter role. Imagine having to listen to that and return back to your ballclub.
But Ortiz recently told MLB.com that he would prefer a multiyear deal and dodge the hearing altogether.
“We are working on that right now,” said Ortiz, who hit 29 homers and had 96 RBIs in 2011. “Hopefully, we will get to an agreement so we don’t have to go in front of the judge.”
But if Ortiz ultimately receives his payday, it’s still an unfavorable outcome for Cherington. The general manager would be handcuffed financially, having roughly $4 million less to spend on acquiring players.
It’s quite possible that Ortiz’s camp has an edge. Last season, Ortiz boasted the eighth highest OPS in the majors (.953), totaled the seventh-best slugging percentage (.554) and finished in the top 25 in home runs and RBIs.
Arbiters could also account for the other criteria, such as a specific player’s leadership capabilities and public popularity. As an integral piece of the Red Sox’s last two titles and someone with a larger-than-life personality, Ortiz earns the advantage.
It’s certainly not the ideal position for Cherington. Unless the two parties settle beforehand, a lose-lose situation could be approaching.
Welcome to the life of a general manager.
Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
