The Florida Marlins announced on Monday the re-signing of ace lefthander  Dontrelle Willis just beating the deadline before arbitration proceedings to begin.

Associated Press reporter Steven Wine reports on the signing of Willis who has spent his 4 year career with the Marlins;

The Florida Marlins ace agreed Monday to a one-year contract for $6.45 million, a hefty salary for the team with the lowest payroll in the major leagues by far last year.

 ”I’m very happy,” Willis said. “How can you not be? I’m very appreciative to go out and have the opportunity to play baseball.”

Willis was married in December, and his wife is expecting a girl in May.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “It’s something you can’t fathom, but you’d better get used to it.”

Willis’ contract represents a 48 percent increase over his salary of $4.35 million in 2006. He went 12-12 with a 3.87 ERA in 223 1-3 innings.

The Marlins’ payroll of $15 million last year figures to rise considerably if they keep Willis and slugger Miguel Cabrera, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time. Cabrera’s pay could climb to the $6 million range after he made $472,000 last year.

Willis avoided arbitration with his agreement.

The Marlins’ offer was what Willis had been seeking, said his agent, Matt Sosnick.

“We weighed our options and always wanted to be around this figure,” Sosnick said. “We thought it was fair. It’s always better to avoid arbitration.”

The only glitch in Willis’ offseason: He was charged in December with drunken driving in Miami Beach. He pleaded not guilty last week.

In 2005, Willis led the major leagues with 22 wins and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award balloting. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 2003, when the Marlins beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

In 127 starts since being called up from Double-A Carolina in 2003, Willis is 58-39 with a 3.44 ERA.

He can earn a $50,000 bonus if he makes 32 starts this year. He made 34 in 2006.

In another arbitration-beating signing, the Phillies signed starter/reliever  Ryan Madson to a 1 year deal worth $1.1 million.   

Ken Mandel of MLB.com reports on the Madson, Phils deal;

Ryan Madson avoided arbitration on Sunday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Phillies, leaving the club with four arbitration-eligible players.

Madson, 26, went 11-9 with two saves and a 5.69 ERA in 50 games, including 17 starts, in 2006. He finished second on the team in wins, third in innings pitched (134 1/3) and fourth in strikeouts (99), establishing career highs in all of those categories. As a reliever, Madson went 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA.

After shuttling between the bullpen and rotation last season, the right-hander is expected to exclusively be used as a reliever in 2007, and should serve in a late-inning role.

Originally selected by the Phillies in the ninth round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Madson has spent his entire career with the Phillies, going 26-17 with three saves and a 4.35 ERA in 181 games.

Four other Phillies remain possible arbitration litigants; pitchers Geoff Geary and Brett Myers as well as centerfielder Aaron Rowand and All Star 2nd baseman Chase Utley.

Mandel reports in the same article regarding Utley that;

The team is considering a long-term deal with Utley that would essentially buy out his three arbitration years — thus eliminating the yearly filing — and perhaps delay his filing for free agency by a year or two.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 16th, 2007 at 12:12 pm and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary
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