One of my first young players has reached his first year where he's eligible for arbitration. My question is, how many arbitration years can I give him before I have to sign him to a long term contract.

Is it safer to sign him right away to a long term contract?

I would hate to lose him for FA as he is easily my best player. ROY and All-star (possibly MVP) and hes only into his second season.

He goes to Arb for 3 years, then FA. If hes a superstar and you don't mind paying him accordingly its best to Arb him twice and then sign him to a 5 year extension. Thats not the cheapest way but you will get him for maximum years.

IMO, the best way is to arb 1 year and then go LT the 2nd.

That's what I do mitch. I always arbitrate in season 3, and then sign long term in season 4 if I want to keep them.

Mitch, why is that better? I find the guy always signs the LT deal on the 3rd arb year anyway.

I do not feel like finding the thread where I saw it, and maybe I'm just crazy, but I thought I read that if your arb a guy for 2 years, then he was less likely to sign LT on the third year. Or did I miss understand it, and the real meaning is that if you arb a guy for all three years, then he was less likely to sign LT on the 4th year. I'm not sure, but I always try to sign my better players to LT deals in an effort to keep them "happy."

isn't it sick that I worry about what a computer generated baseball player thinks of me and my organization?? hahaha

you can always sign LT on 3rd year of arb. I always arb twice.

Quote: Originally Posted By shobob on 12/07/2009Mitch, why is that better? I find the guy always signs the LT deal on the 3rd arb year anyway

His LT demands will most likely be higher in his third arb season than they will in his second. His LT demands in his second year are usually in the ballpark of his arb demands. So in the long run, you'll end up paying more by waiting until the third arb year to go LT.