Arbitration reactions

It's not a lengthy article, or even all that in-depth. But JJO files a report on yesterday's arbitration action.

Why wasn't Tejada offered arbitration?
Tejada, who was the Astros' team leader on the field and in the clubhouse the last two seasons, said he's willing to move from shortstop to third base. But few, if any, teams would have likely risked going to arbitration with him because he stood to make anywhere from $12 million to $14 million for the 2010 season. Instead, baseball insiders believe Tejada will be cheaper on the free-agent market.

Baseball insiders. I don't think any of us qualify as baseball insiders. Well, maybe Deputy Jason - he knows Strech Suba. But all of us knew Tejada would have been cheaper as a free agent than through arbitration. Anyway.

What say you, Tejada?
“I'm just waiting to see what happens. I'm just here in the Dominican Republic waiting to hear something.”

But there is something of note, regarding LaHawk:
Including incentives, Hawkins made about $4 million last year with a base salary of $3.5 million, which is the same offer the Astros made to him immediately after the season, according to a person briefed on the negotiations.

So the Astros offered him $4 million, didn't reach an agreement for two weeks, and didn't offer him arbitration, which - had the judges found in LaHawk's favor - would have awarded him something close to the salary the Astros had already offered. But they didn't. So that's that.