Advertisement

Santiago Loses 1st Arbitration Decision of ’91

Share
From Associated Press

All-Star catcher Benito Santiago lost the first arbitration hearing of 1991 when an arbitrator today chose San Diego’s offer of $1.65 million over his request for $2.5 million.

Santiago, 25, won last year in arbitration at $1.25 million. If he had been successful this time, he would have broken the arbitration salary record of $1,975,000 set by Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees in 1987.

Padres General Manager Joe McIlvaine said in a statement that the team has “spent a lot of time in an attempt to negotiate a short-term and long-term contract for Benito Santiago.”

Advertisement

“The Padres continue to stand ready to try to negotiate an agreement that will keep Benito Santiago here beyond 1992,” McIlvaine said.

Santiago hit .270 last season with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs. He has caught about 40% of opposing runners attempting to steal, including 23 last year.

Santiago was voted NL rookie of the year in 1987 and ended the season with a 34-game hitting streak.

Today’s ruling was by arbitrator Rolf Valtin.

In another case, Montreal outfielder Mike Aldrete won when arbitrator John Caraway chose his request for $510,000 over the Expos’ offer of $350,000.

Braves right-handed reliever Jeff Parrett avoided an arbitration hearing scheduled for Sunday by agreeing today to a one-year $855,000 contract with the Atlanta Braves. Parrett had sought $925,000 and the Braves had offered $725,000.

Advertisement