The Yankees’ new hitter-friendly ballpark might have an impact on their arbitration cases this offseason.
This winter, three Yankees are arbitration-eligible — Melky Cabrera, Brian Bruney and Chien-Ming Wang — though it’s possible the team will add more arbitration-eligible players between now and hearing time. Of the trio, Cabrera will be the case to watch. He’s batting .284 with eight homers and 32 RBIs at home, versus .289 with just three homers and 11 RBIs on the road.
The Yankees likely would use this as a reason to pay him less — arguing that he’s a product of their home park. As one agent says, a side will make the case with the ballpark’s impact in mind “if it’s convenient.”
“It all comes down to comparable players,” the agent said. “And the reality is you’re going to want to differentiate conveniently why Adrian Gonzalez [who plays home games in pitcher-friendly San Diego] is not the same as someone who hits 30 home runs for the Yankees.”
But the Yankees’ home-road splits were higher the previous two seasons compared with this year. In 2007, their OPS was .854 at home and.804 on the road, last season .789 at home and .749 on the road.
Entering last night’s game, the Yankees’ OPS was .859 at home and .817 on the road. It’s still higher at home, but not to the degree of the previous two years, despite the home-run barrage in the new park.
On the other hand, if the hitters’ values are perceived as diminished because of the park they play in, the Yankees pitchers could see their values enhanced. That could benefit Bruney and Wang this winter, and going forward, players such as Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Coke.
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