MLB.com reported on Jan. 15 that three Texas Rangers' players filed for arbitration this week. The three players are outfielder David Murphy, starting pitcher Matt Harrison and relief pitcher Neftali Feliz.
The players will start exchanging figures on Friday and they have until Feb. 4 to reach a decision. This normally works out well for Texas, who has not gone to arbitration with a player since 2000. However, the tricky name is Feliz.
Two years ago Feliz was the closer for Texas and one of the best closers in all of baseball. However, he gave up the loss in the game where Texas needed only one out for their first World Series crown. The next season, Texas signed Joe Nathan to be their closer and moved Feliz to the starting lineup.
The move was too much for Feliz, who blew out his arm and won't be back until the final two months of 2013 at the earliest. That makes his worth for this season questionable. Feliz made $502,000 in 2012.
Texas has already made it clear they want to lock Harrison up to a long term deal and that would solve all arbitration possibilities them and there. Harrison always goes home for the offseason and doesn't show back up until it is time for spring to begin. That means that this Friday, the numbers exchanged should be for the long term deal.
Harrison made $2.95 million in 2012 and finished the season 18-11, with a 3.29 ERA.
UPDATE: Matt Harrison signed a new deal with Texas for five-years.
David Murphy is heading into 2013 as the Rangers' everyday left fielder with the departure of Josh Hamilton. In 2012, he hit .304 with 15 homers and 61 RBIs. Murphy made $3.625 million in 2012 and should be worth every penny in 2013.
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