2014 Tulane Baseball Arbitration Competition Eric Hosmer v. Kansas City Royals

Transcription

1 2014 Tulane Baseball Arbitration Competition Eric Hosmer v. Kansas City Royals Submission on behalf of Kansas City Royals Mid-Point: $3,650,000 Team 13 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction and Request for Hearing Decision.1 II. III. IV. Career Contributions and Achievements 1 Platform Season..2 Comparable Players 2 V. Health.7 VI. Conclusion..7 2

3 I. INTRODUCTION AND REQUEST FOR HEARING DECISION This brief analyzes the contributions of Eric Hosmer ( Mr. Hosmer or Hosmer ), first baseman for the Kansas City Royals ( Royals or the club ). Hosmer has amassed years of major league service time ( MLS ), and therefore he qualifies as a Super Two. 1 This brief is governed by and adheres to Section VI(10)(e)(a)-(b) of the Major League Baseball ( MLB ) Collective Bargaining Agreement ( CBA ). According to the CBA, the arbitration panel may consider (1) the quality of the Player s contribution to his Club during the past season; (2) the length and consistency of his career contribution; (3) the record of the Player s past compensation; (4) comparative baseball salaries; (5) the existence of any physical or mental defects on the part of the Player, and (6) the recent performance record of the Club. The team s offer in this arbitration matter is for $3.3 million. The player s offer is for $4.0 million, and the midpoint and the essential figure in this arbitration is $3.65 million. The Royals believe that the combination of Mr. Hosmer s recent performance on the field and comparable player salaries warrant a contract award of less than the $3.65 million midpoint and therefore Mr. Hosmer should receive no more than the Club s final offer of $3.3 million. II. CAREER CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Mr. Hosmer was drafted third overall in the first round by the Royals in Debuting on May 6 th, 2011, at the age of 21, Hosmer has played in 439 total games. 3 1 Eric Hosmer, 2 Eric Hosmer, 3 Eric Hosmer, 3

4 PA R H HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS (Platform) Career III. PLATFORM SEASON Mr. Hosmer had his most productive season by the numbers in He was 9 th in the AL in batting average; 10 th in the AL in at bats; 7 th in the AL in hits; 6 th in the AL in singles; and top-10 in several defensive categories. 5 However, he was 1 st overall in errors committed as a first baseman in the AL, and he also had a negative defensive wins above replacement for positional players ( dwar ) for the third year in a row at His overall wins above replacement ( WAR ) in 2013 were 3.6, though it was negative the year before at -0.3, and was a 1.6 during the 2011 season. Because of the inconsistency from season to season, it is best to look at career totals for Mr. Hosmer to gauge his actual value. IV. COMPARABLE PLAYERS There have been several players that are very comparable to Mr. Hosmer, including but not limited to the following: (a) Neil Walker 4 Eric Hosmer, 5 Eric Hosmer, 6 Eric Hosmer, 4

5 G R H HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS WALKER thru Neil Walker ( Walker ), the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has had very similar career numbers to Hosmer. 8 In games, runs, and hits, Walker is within 10% of Hosmer s career numbers, while Walker has more RBIs in 25 less games, as well as a higher batting average and OPS (on-base + slugging percentage), while having a nearly identical slugging percentage. The only difference between the two is that Hosmer has roughly 25% more home runs than Walker does, which is expected since Walker does not play a position typical of power hitting in baseball. Walker s WAR for the 2012 season was Walker received a salary of $3.3 million after his 2012 season. 10 (b) Ryan Zimmerman G R H HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS ZIMMERMAN thru Neil Walker,

6 11 Ryan Zimmerman ( Zimmerman ), third baseman of the Washington Nationals, has had very similar, though somewhat better, stats across the board compared to Hosmer. In nearly an identical number of games, Zimmerman had 23 more runs, 29 more hits, 8 more home runs, 41 more RBIs, a higher batting/ on-base/ slugging/ and OPS percentage than Hosmer. In 2008, Zimmerman had a WAR of Zimmerman made $3.325 million in salary after the 2008 season. (c) Delmon Young G R H HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS YOUNG thru Delmon Young ( Young ), an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, had very similar stats through 2009 to Hosmer as well. In less than a 5% difference in games, Young has 40 more hits than Hosmer and only six less runs than Hosmer, though Hosmer has hit for roughly 25% more home runs than Young. However, their batting averages, OBPs, and slugging percentages are nearly identical, though Hosmer s OPS is slightly higher. Young made $2.6 million following the 2009 season. (d) Chris Davis 11 Ryan Zimmerman, Delmon Young, 6

7 G R H HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS DAVIS thru Chris Davis ( Davis ), first baseman (as well as outfielder) for the Baltimore Orioles, had very similar career numbers to Hosmer through In nearly the identical number of games, Davis had 9 less runs and 5 more RBIs. However, though Davis had 73 less hits than Hosmer, Davis also had 27 more homeruns than Hosmer. Davis also had a much higher slugging percentage and OPS, though his batting average and on-base percentage were slightly lower. After the 2012 season, Davis received a salary of $3.3 million. (e) Nelson Cruz and Jason Heyward G R H HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS CRUZ thru HEYWARD thru Chris Davis, 7

8 Nelson Cruz ( Cruz ) through 2010 and Jason Heyward ( Heyward ) through 2012 had very similar numbers to Hosmer through In less games, but players had similar if not a greater number of runs and RBIs than Hosmer, though they both had nearly 20% less hits than Hosmer. 16 However, both had significantly more home runs than Hosmer, Heyward having 9 more in 11 less game, and Cruz having 27 more in 27 less games. 17 Both Cruz and Heyward also hit for much higher slugging percentages and OPS. Cruz made $3.65 million after 2010, and Heyward made $3.65 million after Since this is the midpoint of the arbitration, and both Cruz and Heyward have hit significantly better in less games than Hosmer has, Hosmer should make less than the $3.65 million salaries that Cruz and Heyward received. (f) Shane Victorino G R H HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS VICTORINO thru Shane Victorino ( Victorino ) had very similar numbers through 2008 to Hosmer, and was also a Gold Glove winner like Hosmer. Victorino in fact played in a little more than 10% more games than Hosmer, but had 20% more hits, as well as a higher batting 15 Nelson Cruz, Jason Heyward, 16 Id. 17 Id. 18 Id. 19 Shane Victorino, 8

9 average, on-base percentage, and OPS. After 2008, Victorino made $3.125 million in salary, significantly less than the midpoint of the arbitration at hand. 20 V. HEALTH Though Hosmer has been relatively healthy in his career, he has missed time or games four separate times since being in the majors. 21 In 2012, Hosmer missed a day for a finger contusion, as well as 6 days and 6 games for a shoulder strain due to a slight rotator cuff tear. 22 In 2013, Hosmer has missed 4 total days and 2 games to tightness in his quadriceps on two separate occasions. This is a slight concern to the team going forward, more so for the possibility of future rotator tears in his shoulder. VI. CONCLUSION Due to inconsistency from season to season, some health and injury concerns, and the simple fact that Hosmer s comparable players salaries are at or under $3.3 million, and those that make $3.65 million or the midpoint of the arbitration are considerably more productive than Hosmer, the Royals request that Mr. Hosmer receive a salary arbitration award of $3.3 million Id. 9