Indians avoid arbitration with five players, one unsigned

Today the Indians have agreed to one year contracts with right-handed reliever Matt Albers ($1.75 million), catcher Lou Marson ($1 million), right-handed starting pitcher Justin Masterson ($5.688), right-handed closer Chris Perez ($7.3 million), and right-handed reliever Joe Smith ($3.15 million). On Thursday night they agreed to a one year contract with outfielder Drew Stubbs ($2.825 million).

In total that spent $21.713 million on the six signed arbitration eligible players with known salary figures, which is $713,000 higher than the projected total of $21 million to sign them.

The only arbitration eligible player that remains unsigned is middle infielder Mike Aviles who is projected to earn $2.3 million in arbitration. The Indians presented a desired salary figure to the MLB Labor Relations Department today, and Aviles and other players who filed for arbitration on Tuesday already submitted their requested salary figure to the MLB Labor Relations Department.  Since the Indians were unable to sign him before the 1pm deadline today, they can only negotiate a deal between the two requested figures.

At this time Aviles is not expected to jeopardize the Indians’ streak of avoiding arbitration as they last went to arbitration in 1991 with Greg Swindell and Jerry Browne.  The Indians and Aviles have exchanged arbitration figures, and a deal can still be reached prior to the Feb 1st through 20th arbitration hearing dates.

Also of note, the Reds and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo did not come to an agreement before today's deadline.

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