Sox Agree to Deal with Hermida

[Imperial59]

The Red Sox today agreed to terms with outfielder Jeremy Hermida on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for the 2010 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Arbitration hearings would have started Feb. 1.

The sides agreed to a $3.345 million deal for 2010, a team source told the Globe's Amalie Benjamin. Hermida made $2.25 million last season. According to Globe baseball writer Peter Abraham, Hermida was seeking $3.85 million and the Red Sox had offered $2.95 million. In most of these cases the sides split the difference, which is what the Sox did here.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/01/sox_agree_to_te_1.html

The Red Sox have now come to terms with all arbitration eligible players. To review those agreements:

Papelbon - $9.35 million
Hermida - $3.345 million
Ramirez - $1.115 million
Delcarmen - $0.905

With that, the Red Sox have a $163,820,333 committed to players for 2010. That doesn't include players like Ellsbury and Buchholz who are in line for a league minimum salary.

[Spudboy]

Non-guaranteed?

Is that normal?

[Imperial59]

Non-guaranteed?

Is that normal?

Apparently, it is typical. If a player goes to arbitration, they automatically get a non-guaranteed contract. Okajima also signed to a non-guaranteed contract, I'm not sure about the other arb eligible players the Red Sox signed.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/story/1425995.html?storylink=mirelated

Even though this is a non-guaranteed contract, there is only one situation which I've found in the CBA, under which Hermida could be released without the Red Sox having to pay his entire salary. And that is if he fails to demonstrate "sufficient skill or adequate ability" during Spring Training. If he fails to demonstrate "sufficient skill or adequate ability" in Spring Training, then the Red Sox would only have to pay 30-days worth of his current contract (45 days worth of salary if they do it within 16 days of the regular season).

If the Red Sox were to release Hermida during the regular season, they'd have to pay the remainder of his salary. That's what it says on page 27-78 of the CBA.

http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/pdf/cba_english.pdf

If anyone's wondering if there's some kind of preceent for a player being terminated for not being able to demonstrate "sufficient skill or adequate ability", Todd Walker was terminated for this same reason after hitting .225 for the Padres in 50 at bats in Spring Training of 2007. The Player's Association filed a grievance against the Padres for the termination and lost the case.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...mlb&id=2818207

Rather than having to pay Walker's full $3.95 million, they were only on the hook for $971,311.

[Imperial59]

For the record, Papelbon, Ramirez and Delcarmen were also signed to non-guaranteed contracts.

http://www.abc6.com/sports/82128897.html

[BSN07]

It's the norm.