After the nasty contract dispute with Captain Derek Jeter, I half expected the New York Yankees to pick a fight with their three youngsters eligible for arbitration in an attempt to save a few bucks. I'm happy that they wisely decided not to let things get ugly.
The Yankees signed Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Boone Logan to reasonable, one-year deals, avoiding any contentious hearings with less than a month until pitchers and catchers report.
After the year he had, I thought Hughes could have gotten a bigger raise, but he won't be hurting with $2.7 million. That's still a bargain for the Yankees considering that he, along with CC Sabathia, is seen as the only reliable member of the starting rotation. But hopefully him settling for a reasonable deal rather than fighting for the last dollar sets the stage for smooth negotiations on a long-term deal when his time comes.
In signing Logan and Joba, the Yankees bullpen is now set. Logan proved to be an integral cog in the relief corp last year and will play an even bigger role with the revamped power lineup of the Boston Red Sox. This year may be even more important for Joba. He needs to prove that he can get back to being that dominant guy we saw a few years ago and I think the Yankees will give him one more year to find it again before they start thinking about moving on.
I hate the baseball arbitration process because even the best relationships can turn sour under the pressure. But in signing their three eligible youngsters, the Yankees got at least one thing done right this offseason.
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