Arbitration

The Orioles have not gone before an arbitration panel with a player since prior to the 2006 season, but with potential hearing dates approaching, it's becoming more likely that that trend will be broken. According to multiple sources, the Orioles have tentative hearings scheduled with right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie on Monday, Feb. 6, with swingman Brad Bergesen on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and with center fielder Adam Jones on Friday, Feb. 17. All are scheduled for mornings at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. Guthrie is the first on the slate for the Orioles and seemingly is the most likely to go before the three-person arbitration panel.  Guthrie, who was 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA and made $5.75 million in 2011, has proposed a $10.25 million contract for 2012 while the Orioles countered with $7.25 million.

Finally, a spotlight will be shone on a widespread business practice that forces unhappy customers to settle disputes through binding arbitration — rather than by telling their story in court. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau now is seeking public input about mandatory arbitration clauses in the contracts of financial products and services. More important, the board has the power to limit or even eliminate the clauses if they hurt consumers. For far too long, consumers have been forced to sign away their rights to sue a company should a problem arise.

The next Orioles deadline of note is Tuesday at noon, when the club officially exchanges figures with its arbitration eligible players. They had seven arbitration-eligible players for whom they offered contracts - and five remain unsigned. The Orioles agreed to a $1.35 million deal with reliever Darren O'Day, whom the Orioles claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers this offseason. O'Day received a $100,000 bump. The club also settled with lefty Dana Eveland, acquired in December from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A key labor battle in Anne Arundel County will go before the state's highest court next month, when the Court of Appeals tackles the dispute over binding arbitration for the county's public safety unions. Angering the nine unions, the county moved last year to give the County Council final word in collective bargaining disputes, a role formerly held by an arbitrator. Union leaders hope the Court of Appeals will undo the council's vote and the unions' subsequent loss on appeal before a county judge.

Barring a last minute change, the Orioles are expected to go to arbitration hearings with starter Jeremy Guthrie and swingman Brad Bergesen -- which would be the first time the club has met with the three-person, independent panel since before the 2006 season. Guthrie's hearing is Monday morning, Bergesen's is Wednesday morning and both will be at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Orioles also could face a hearing Feb. 17 with center fielder Adam Jones, but the sense is that it could be settled before the hearing date.

Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz signed a four-year, $11 million extension on Wednesday, avoiding salary arbitration. Schultz, 24, enjoyed a breakout 2009-10 season, amassing three goals, 20 assists and an NHL-leading plus-minus rating of plus-50, which also was a franchise record. The 27th overall pick in the 2004 draft will earn $2.5 million in the first two years and $3 million in the final two for a $2.75million charge against the salary cap. "I kind of saw salary [filing for]

The 20 free agents offered salary arbitration by their former teams Sunday. Players have until Dec. 19 to accept or reject the offers and may negotiate with their former teams through Jan. 8:American LeagueOrioles (2): x-Brady Anderson, OF; Harold Baines, DH.Cleveland (1): Pat Borders, C.Detroit (1): y-Willie Blair, RHP.Kansas City (1): Dean Palmer, 3B.New York (2): Tim Raines, OF; Darryl Strawberry, OF.Seattle (1): Rick Wilkins, C.Texas (3): x-Scott Bailes, LHP; Bill Ripken, 2B; Bobby Witt, RHP.National LeagueCincinnati (4)

Twenty-eight free agents were offered salary arbitration before Thursday's midnight deadline, and 77 were not. Players offered arbitration have until Dec. 19 to accept or reject the offers and may negotiate with their former teams through Jan. 8. Players not offered arbitration may not sign with their former teams until May 1 (s-signed with another team). Offered arbitration Anaheim: Mark Petkovsek, rhp. Atlanta: s-Andy Ashby, rhp; Bobby Bonilla, of; John Burkett, rhp; Wally Joyner, 1b; Scott Kamieniecki, rhp; Terry Mulholland, lhp. Boston: Tom Gordon, rhp. Chicago White Sox: Harold Baines, of; Charles Johnson, c. Cincinnati: Mark Wohlers, rhp;.

A day after acknowledging that starter Brad Bergesen will begin spring training with a shoulder injury, the Orioles made sure another member of their rotation would not arrive disgruntled for next week's camp opener. The team and right-hander Jeremy Guthrie agreed Friday to a $3 million contract for 2010, alleviating the need for a potentially contentious arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla., a day before Orioles pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota.

If you think you will have your day in court when aggrieved by civil injustice, think again. More likely, you will be headed for a meeting run by a professional arbitrator. Ironically, the Supreme Court is to blame. It is leading a quiet transformation by moving the country from using public court trials to secret arbitration hearings. Justice in a court of law emphasizes fairness, using costly traditional practices: impartial juries, trained judges, media-saturated trials open to the public, discovery of information, published opinions explaining judicial reasoning and review by an appellate panel.

The Orioles came to terms with their final arbitration-eligible player on Tuesday night, agreeing to a one-year, $6.15 million deal with center fielder Adam Jones. Jones, 26, would have had his hearing Friday in Florida. He was asking for $7.4 million, and the Orioles had countered with $5 million. He basically agreed to the midpoint of $6.2 million, as there is $50,000 available to him in performance bonuses. He'll get $25,000 if he reaches 620 plate appearances and $25,000 more if he gets to 635 plate appearances.

A few Thursday morning thoughts from the Orioles beat: -- The outcome of Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen's arbitration hearing will be made public today. Bergesen, who made $434,000 last season, filed for $1.2 million while the Orioles countered with $800,000 It's the first time the Orioles have gone to arbitration since 2006 with pitcher Rodrigo Lopez. Given that Bergesen went 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA in 34 appearances (12 starts) and has an unclear role going into spring training because of the surplus of rotation candidates, the fact that he filed for a 57 percent raise is interesting.

Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen lost his arbitration bid Thursday, giving the team its seventh consecutive victory in the process. Bergesen, 26, filed for $1.2 million after a season in which he was 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA in 34 games, including 12 starts. The Orioles countered with $800,000, and since the sides could not find middle ground, they went before a three-person arbitration panel Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. The panel chose the Orioles' figure - which is still a considerable increase for Bergesen, who made $434,000 in 2011.

Barring a last minute change, the Orioles are expected to go to arbitration hearings with starter Jeremy Guthrie and swingman Brad Bergesen -- which would be the first time the club has met with the three-person, independent panel since before the 2006 season. Guthrie's hearing is Monday morning, Bergesen's is Wednesday morning and both will be at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Orioles also could face a hearing Feb. 17 with center fielder Adam Jones, but the sense is that it could be settled before the hearing date.

The Orioles have not gone before an arbitration panel with a player since prior to the 2006 season, but with potential hearing dates approaching, it's becoming more likely that that trend will be broken. According to multiple sources, the Orioles have tentative hearings scheduled with right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie on Monday, Feb. 6, with swingman Brad Bergesen on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and with center fielder Adam Jones on Friday, Feb. 17. All are scheduled for mornings at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. Guthrie is the first on the slate for the Orioles and seemingly is the most likely to go before the three-person arbitration panel.  Guthrie, who was 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA and made $5.75 million in 2011, has proposed a $10.25 million contract for 2012 while the Orioles countered with $7.25 million.

The Orioles have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with infielder Robert Andino, avoiding arbitration, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is worth $1.3 million, according to an industry source, the midpoint of the figures that were exchanged between Andino ($1.6 million) and the Orioles ($1 million). That leaves the Orioles with three unsigned arbitration-eligible players -- right-handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, center fielder Adam Jones and right-handed pitcher Brad Bergesen.