The Chicago Cubs and Salary Arbitration - Ryan Theriot's Hearing is the Last One of the Year

The Chicago Cubs have one of the most interesting team histories in salary arbitration. Their hearing yesterday with Ryan Theriot is only the sixth in the history of the franchise. It is also the first for general manager Jim Hendry. The Cubs hold a 3-2 edge over their players. The fact that they are one of the teams with the fewest hearings is interesting enough. To me, however, what is really fascinating is the list of the five players in the group that Theriot is joining: Andre Dawson, Shawon Dunston, Leon Durham, Mark Grace, and Bruce Sutter. What a group of players! Here is a list of the number of years that these five players spent in the major leagues: Dawson - 21; Dunston - 18; Durham - 10; Grace - 16; and Sutter - 12. The analysis could go on in so many directions.

Although Dawson’s plaque in Cooperstown will depict him as a member of the Montreal Expos, “Hawk” will join Bruce Sutter who was inducted in 2006. Sutter’s plaque shows the reliever with a St. Louis Cardinals cap. Dawson lost his hearing in 1988 ($1,850,000 - $2,000,000). Mark Grace, the most recent hearing before Theriot, lost his case in 1993 ($3,100,000 - $4,100,000). Shawon Dunston defeated the Cubs in 1990 ($925,000 - $1,250,000). Leon Durham lost his 1985 hearing ($800,000 - $1,100,000). Bruce Sutter defeated the Cubs in 1980 ($350,000 - $700,000). Stephen Goldberg, the most experienced of all salary arbitrators, decided three of the previous five hearings. He ruled for the Cubs in the Dawson and Durham cases and against Chicago in the Dunston case. Howard Block handled the Grace case, and Thomas Christenson decided the Sutter case.

The other general managers for the Cubs that have gone to hearings are Bob Kennedy (1980 - Sutter), Dallas Green (1985 - Durham), Jim Frey (1988 - Dawson, 1990 - Dunston), and Larry Himes (Grace - 1993). Jim Hendry became the general manager in July 2002.

Theriot is hoping to win his case today with a demand for $3,400,000. The Cubs offered $2,600,000. Stephen Drew’s signing at $3,400,000 on January 19 should work against the Cubs. Drew is in the same service class as Theriot (3 years). Erick Aybar of the Angels, who agreed late this week to a $2,050,000 deal with $100,000 in possible incentives is also in this service group.