After winning his arbitration case against the Angels on February 12th, MI-R David Eckstein will receive his requested salary of $2.15M in 2004. Anaheim entered the hearing hoping to convince the three-person panel of arbitrators that Eckstein only deserved $1.6M in 2004.

Eckstein struggled with injuries in 2003, leaving him vulnerable in his first off-season of arbitration-eligibility. However, he escaped with a salary more in line with his 2002 performance than last season's production. Hopefully, a healthy Eckstein will be able to rebound in 2004. I don't believe the 29-year-old really is in danger of losing his job to IF-S Alfredo Amezaga in spring training, since Amezaga failed to impress during his major league opportunities in 2003. If Amezaga continues to tear up AAA while Eckstein's performance lags in the majors, Eckstein could metamorphize into a highly paid reserve before the end of the season. However, I suspect the Angels will deal Eckstein to a playoff contender willing to pay for bench help rather than allow him to ride their own pine.