That figure, which includes base salaries and signing bonuses, does not include incentive clauses that could push the figure higher. The Brewers' total is for 26 players instead of the usual 25 because pitcher Steve Sparks is starting the season on the disabled list. General manager Sal Bando said the increase was necessary because a large number of players were eligible for salary arbitration. We had John Jaha, David Nilsson, Jose Valentin, Cal Eldred, Matt Mieske and Fernando Vina all eligible for arbitration. Those were guys that we wanted to keep, so that caused the payroll to go up.
Players become eligible for salary arbitration after three years of major-league service.
If the player and the club fail to reach an agreement on their own, they each submit a contract figure to an arbitrator, who chooses one based on an analysis of statistics and salary figures for players in a similar class of position, experience and production. As has been their custom, the Brewers did not go to a hearing with any of their arbitration-eligible players this year. However, all of those players received significant raises. You have to look at the position a guy plays and what the market has been for that player. That's the market.