Where else but in professional sports could “arbitration” have such a parallel-universe meaning?
B.J. Upton made $435,000 last season as the Tampa Bay Rays’ centerfielder. Arguably he was overpaid for his offensive underperformance. For the record, he hit .241, 11 home runs and drove in 55 runs. He’s also been known to need a reminder that hustling was far more important than looking cool.
The Rays and Upton went to arbitration over this year’s salary. The Rays offered $3 million; Upton asked for $3.3 million. The arbitration panel ruled in favor of the Rays. Imagine if Upton had actually had a good year last season? Imagine if these were flush times?