Executive VP Andrew Friedman said last week he would "be surprised" if remaining arbitration cases with OF Jonny Gomes, LHP Scott Kazmir. 1B Carlos Pena and RHP Dan Wheeler weren't settled before the upcoming Friday (Jan. 18) date to exchange figures.
And he appears to be working hard at it.
Both Gomes and Wheeler said Sunday night they knew talks with their representatives had been ongoing through the weekend, but didn't know exactly where things stood. Kazmir and Pena didn't respond to messages.
Friedman and the players are operating under something of a deadline, given a team policy to break off negotiations - and proceed to a hearing - if there is no deal by the time figures are exchanged. The team's thinking behind that policy is to avoid settling at or near an artificial midpoint that is created by the filed figures - one by the team and one by the player. If a case proceeds, the arbitrator has to pick one of the salary figures.