Buster Posey Earns Biggest Arbitrational Raise In MLB’s Unique Offseason

Sep. 14, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) signs autographs for fans before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Nothing too shocking here given what we know of Buster Posey, but among the 133 Major League players who filed for arbitration this offseason, none had a bigger increase in their salary than the San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey. Posey, who earned essentially pennies compared to his production value last year, had his salary jump 13-fold – all the way to $8 million. The closest player to Posey was fellow catcher Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles who had his salary jump 11-fold to $5.5 million while everybody’s favorite pitcher, Mat Latos, of the Cincinnati Reds jumped 10-fold to a very respectable $5.75 million, which can buy quite a few autographed “I hate SF” balls.

The oddest part of this offseason’s arbitrational hearings though weren’t the figures that were agreed to by the teams and the player – it was the fact that there wasn’t a single arbitrational case throughout the league. All 133 players who entered arbitration came to some form of an agreement, leaving the Ellis East Room on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix unused, this according to The Daily Journal.

In 2005, 2009 and 2011, only three arbitrational cases were held – the lowest number since arbitration began in 1974, but this year marks the first time where there wasn’t a single case – something most teams have to be thrilled with.