Miguel Montero avoids arbitration with Arizona Diamondbacks – MLB News
Veteran catcher and one of the most talented players in the current Arizona Diamondbacks’ franchise Miguel Montero, has avoided potential salary arbitration and agreed to a one year deal.
He signed a new one year contract with his current team worth $5.9 million on late Tuesday night after long discussions of settlement.
“It is a relief," Montero said. "We feel happy with what we got. I’m happy with the Diamondbacks because they did everything possible to get it done before I walked in, because it is not a good situation to walk in there. I really don’t even want to go. In the end, everything worked out perfect.”
He added, “It feels so nice, I feel relieved and happy to get it done, man. I can't wait to get to Spring Training and start playing. That's the fun part. That's what it's all about. We're going to have a good team again this year."
Earlier, Montero and his agent filed for $6.8 million for next season; however, the Diamondbacks were inflexible to giving him this amount. Experts were speculating in advance that this late argument with both sides might lead them to a bitter dispute leaving an alarming situation before the 2012 Major League Baseball regular season.
During this process of arguments, many other Major League teams also offered Montero some potential offers to join them prior to the start of the new season. Several reporters did speculate that, the San Diego Padres are the leading franchise that offered a hidden one year deal to Montero.
But on Tuesday, all speculations died as both sides agreed on a new one year deal. Now since the matter has been resolved, both sides are sitting pretty comfortable and looking ahead of the 2012 season with best energy.
Montero led the National League catchers in 2012 with 36 doubles along with 84 RBIs and .471 slugging percentage and came second in home runs (18) and on-base plus slugging (.821). It will be interesting to see Montero in the coming season whose career .271 hitting average with 58 homers, 246 RBIs and .338 still needs improvement and he will be looking to put in a better performance next season.
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