Many of the 93 players who filed for arbitration have already agreed to contracts. We covered a few of the contracts yesterday among other players who agreed to multi-year deals. Today, we'll discuss those position players who have signed one-year contracts worth more than $3 million dollars. I hope to comment on the vast majority of the multitude of recent signings, both large and small, over the next week.

Philadelphia was able to avoid arbitration with Scott Rolen when the third baseman agreed to a one-year, $8.6 million contract on Friday. The contract is the second-largest one-year deal ever given to an arbitration-eligible player next to Derek Jeter's $10M contract in 2000.

The Phillies should be pleased that Rolen settled before an arbitration hearing could take place, as some speculated he could have requested between ten and twelve million and won. Obviously the team is somewhat disappointed in the signing as it emphasizes the breakdown in negotiations between the two parties on a long-term deal.

Not a lot has changed since we discussed Rolen's announcement that he would not sign a multi-year contract with Philadelphia before testing the free agent market. GM Ed Wade shopped Rolen during the Winter Meetings, but talks stalled because Rolen would need to agree to a contract extension before a trade would really be worthwhile for another team. At this point the team may just hold onto him and try to win this year, as they would still have a shot at signing him in the off-season. However, Wade will likely continue to shop around. If Rolen's still with the team at the trading deadline, I suspect the Phillies' place in the standings will determine if he stays through the end of the year.

Darin Erstad signed a one-year, $6.25M deal with the Anaheim Angels on Wednesday. This was also Erstad's last year of arbitration before becoming a free agent, and it seems highly unlikely at this point that he will return to Anaheim in 2003. Erstad rebuffed the Angels' attempts to initiate dialogue on a long-term deal, and the club has since attempted to trade him.

This contract is probably at a good price for both sides. Erstad's performance has been very erratic from season to season, so he could have lost at an arbitration hearing as 2001 was one of his least impressive seasons. However, he's also had some very good years, so there was really no reason for Anaheim to risk a loss at a hearing.

Given the inconsistencies in Erstad's performance and the fact that he plays the outfield as opposed to the more talent-strapped third base position, Anaheim may have an even tougher time trying to exact value in trade for Erstad than Philadelphia will have with Rolen. GM Bill Stoneman was on the brink of completing a trade with the Chicago White Sox when Angels' President Tony Tavares nixed the deal because he felt that the organization wasn't receiving fair compensation for its fans.

There was quite an uproar after Anaheim traded Jim Edmonds to the Cardinals for RHP Kent Bottenfield and 2B Adam Kennedy before the start of the 2000 season, and Tavares feared a similar reaction to this deal. However, as it seems a foregone conclusion that the Angels will not re-sign Erstad, there is no reason for them not to attempt to receive some form of compensation for him. The rumored trade would have netted the Angels Jon Garland, Chris Singleton and two minor leaguers, a good trade for Anaheim considering the talent in Chicago's minor leagues. Tavares has since resigned, so Stoneman may attempt to revive the trade. At the very least I strongly suspect we will hear more rumors in the next few months.

Toronto signed the arbitration-eligible Shannon Stewart to a one-year, $4.25M contract on Friday. Ricciardi negotiated a very good price for the Blue Jays. Stewart's performance rivals Erstad's good years and he's also a far more consistent player. If you compare their Runs Created Above Position last season, Stewart clocks in at 21, whereas Erstad sunk all the way down to negative 20.

I would like to see Toronto attempt to sign Stewart to a long-term deal in the next year, as he adds solidity to a lineup that lacks any apparent lead-off replacement. However, I don't believe he will become a free agent before the end of the 2003 season, so the club still has a little time to secure his services. Stewart can earn an additional $50,000 bonus this year if he reaches 625 plate appearances, a very reasonable target considering he's averaged 639 PA over the last three years.

Doug Glanville, also a free agent for the first time at the end of 2002, signed a one-year, $4M contract last Monday. This deal was a horrible move by the Phillies, who probably should have non-tendered Glanville when they had the opportunity in December. While he would probably make an above average fourth outfielder, he has no business in a full-time role, and his performance really doesn't merit much above $500,000. Because of rules governing the largest percentage a player can have his salary cut from year to year, to keep him on the team Philly would have had to pay him at least $2.48 as he received $3.1M dollars in the last season of his three-year contract in 2001. I doubt they could have sold a pay cut at an arbitration hearing, but they certainly should have been able to hold his salary down to something between $3.1 and $4M, so I see no reason for them to have folded to his demands.

Now that he's re-signed at this obnoxious price, Philadelphia should play him in center until Marlon Byrd is ready mid-season, and then attempt to deal him for whatever they can scrounge up. I believe I previously suggested that they should try to work something out with the Texas Rangers even now in order to acquire Mike Lamb as a possible replacement for Rolen. Bobby Abreu could shift over to center for a few months, while Eric Valent and Jason Michaels platooned in right field until Byrd was ready. However, I can't see a great reason for Texas to pay $4M for Glanville's services as a fourth outfielder, even if they do have money to throw around.

Kansas City avoided arbitration with Carlos Beltran when he agreed to a $3.5M on Friday. Beltran received a raise of over three million dollars from last season's $425,000, but he is certainly worth the money and remains under-priced even for a player only in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

While this is a good jumping off point, the Royals must complete a long-term deal with Beltran as soon as possible. Kansas City will likely lose Mike Sweeney at the end of this season, if not in trade before that time, because they have neglected to lock him up in advance of his free agency. They traded Jermaine Dye, because he likely would not have re-signed. To allow a similar chain of events to unfold with Beltran would be a travesty, so they absolutely need to take the necessary steps to avoid making the same mistakes again. He should still have at least three full seasons before he is eligible for free agency, but you don't mess around with a player of this caliber.

On Friday, Luis Castillo signed a one-year contract with the Florida Marlins worth a reported $3.325 million. While some feel he is expendable, I believe that as a second baseman and lead-off hitter, he's a valuable commodity who the Marlins should attempt to sign to a long-term deal. Castillo has had some injury problems the last few years, although when healthy he has provided Florida with enviable production from the lead-off slot in terms of his OBP and stolen base potential.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed J.D. Drew to a one-year, $3.1 million contract on Wednesday. Drew is certainly a player I would have liked to see the Cardinals sign to a multi-year contract. He should be in their long-term plans, and since there is ample evidence that he will play hardball when it comes to negotiations, St. Louis should really be working on a way to avoid a pressure situation.

I suspect that the main reason the club didn't attempt to lock him up longer now is that they're a little strapped for cash after their other off-season transactions. However it should be among their top priorities next season, as their minor league system has little to offer in the way of possible replacements, leaving them little room here for error.