Yanks decline arbitration to Matsui and Damon

[December 02, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The Yankees declined to offer salary arbitration to World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte, a move that means New York would not receive draft picks as compensation if they sign with other teams.

Tuesday night was the first big deadline of baseball's offseason, with teams having until midnight to make arbitration offers to their former players who became free agents. Players have until Dec. 7 to accept; if they reject, they still can re-sign with their former clubs at any time.

As of early evening, Houston offered arbitration to pitcher Jose Valverde and Detroit made offers to right-handers Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney. The Tigers declined offers to left-hander Jarrod Washburn, second baseman Placido Polanco, infielder-outfielder Aubrey Huff and shortstop Adam Everett.

Before 2006, players not offered arbitration could not re-sign with their former clubs from Dec. 8-April 30, but that provision was eliminated in the latest collective bargaining agreement.

Teams losing top free agents, as defined by a complicated statistical formula, get draft picks next June as compensation.

Type A free agents are among the top 20 percent of players at their position, as defined by the formula created in the 1981 strike settlement, and Type B are from 21-40 percent. Teams receive two extra draft picks if they lose a Type A player and one if they lose a Type B.

[Associated Press; By RONALD BLUM]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.