Nick Markakis and Ervin Santana received the steepest raises among the 111 players eligible for salary arbitration, a group that overall earned a record increase of 172 percent, according to a study by The Associated Press.
The rise broke the previous mark of 169 percent set in 1999 and was up sharply from last year's 120 percent hike, partly because the arbitration group started out with a lower average. The 111 players in this year's filing class rose to an average of $3.07 million from $1.13 million.
Markakis received a 24-fold increase, from $455,000 last year to an average of just more than $11 million under a $66.1 million, six-year deal Baltimore gave the outfielder.
Santana got a 16-fold rise, from $445,000 last season to a $7.5 million average under a $30 million, four-year contract.
They were among 14 arbitration players who received multiyear contracts, among them the Pirates' Nate McLouth.
Only three players actually had hearings.
Minnesota filled a much needed void by adding a power-hitting third baseman, signing Joe Crede (.248, 17 HRs, 55 RBIs with the White Sox) to a one-year contract yesterday. He hit .248 with 17 homers and 55 RBIs.
The biggest and perhaps most surprising sign that no team is likely to be immune from the affects of the economic downturn came out of Boston this week, where it came to light that as of mid-week, tickets were still available to nine games in April and May at Fenway Park. That might not be a shock if this were the Pirates and PNC Park. But this is the Red Sox, who have sold out every game at Fenway since May 15, 2003.
Web site beted.com has established the Dominican Republic as an even money favorite in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The United States is next at 2-1. ... The Texas Rangers signed former Pirates No. 1 pick Kris Benson to a minor league contract. ... The Oakland A's have halted planning for a new stadium in Fremont, Calif.
First Published: February 22, 2009, 5:00 a.m.