Arbitration

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 state's highest court has agreed to take up a case focusing on the dispute between Anne Arundel County's public safety unions and county officials over binding arbitration in collective bargaining. The unions sued the county last April, claiming that its move to give the County Council the final say in labor disputes violated a county charter change that voters approved in a 2002 referendum. Last fall, an Anne Arundel County judge ruled that the charter amendment was invalid.

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.

The Orioles did not settle with four of their arbitration-eligible players heading into today's deadline for exchanging figures Now the Orioles and the players will exchange salary numbers and - if they don't settle - an arbiter will choose one figure or the other during a February hearing. They can continue to negotiate up until that hearing. The players heading toward arbitration are pitchers Brad Bergesen and Jeremy Guthrie, outfielder Adam Jones and infielder Robert Andino.

Orioles reliever Jim Johnson, who saved nine games in 2011 including his final eight opportunities, has settled his potential arbitration case with the Orioles. According to an industry source, Johnson has agreed to a 2012 contract worth $2.625 million. That is up from the $975,000 he made in 2011. It was Johnson's second shot at arbitration. He also settled last offseason. The 28-year-old Johnson, who was 6-5 with a 2.67 ERA, set career highs as an Oriole last season in wins, innings pitched (91)