CC Sabathia, likely to command the largest contract among free-agent pitchers, was offered salary arbitration Monday by the Brewers, who also offered it to pitcher Ben Sheets.
Teams had until midnight to make the offers. If a club offers arbitration to a top free agent and he then signs with another club, his former team receives extra picks in June’s amateur draft as compensation. Players offered arbitration have until Sunday to accept.
Most teams had yet to reveal their plans but among notable players offered arbitration were Manny Ramirez by the Dodgers, A.J. Burnett by the Blue Jays, Raul Ibanez by Seattle, Mark Teixeira and Jon Garland by the Angels and Brian Fuentes by Colorado.
The Yankees declined arbitration with Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi. The Dodgers declined with Rafael Furcal, Greg Maddux and Nomar Garciaparra.
Heading into Monday, just two of the 171 players who filed for free agency had agreed to contracts.
*Left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton and the Astros reached a $2 million, one-year contract pending a physical. … The Red Sox and Japanese right-hander Junichi Tazawa, 22, have agreed to a major-league contract worth $3 million. … Cardinals minor-league infielder Wilfred Vivas was suspended 50 games for a positive drug test.
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Compiled by Lee C. Gordon from Tribune wire services.
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