The A's successfully avoided arbitration with their leading home run hitter in 2008 by signing Jack Cust to a one-year, $2.8 million deal, leaving just starter Justin Duchscherer to file for arbitration.
Oakland is still optimistic about signing Duchscherer to a deal before any hearing. The club has gone to arbitration just twice in the last 12 years, coming out on top in hearings with pitchers Ariel Prieto and Juan Cruz. Duchscherer is in an interesting spot in terms of compensation: He spent the first four full years of his career as a reliever, making the All-Star team as a setup man, and then he made the All-Star team last year as a starter. Starters typically earn far more in salary than relievers with similar amounts of service time.
However, Duchscherer missed most of the final two months with a hip injury, and he has had four stints on the DL in the last three seasons.
Duchscherer is a key figure for the A's in 2009. The lineup is greatly improved with the additions of Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday, but Duchscherer is the only starter with substantial major league experience.
Duchscherer is coming off minor hip surgery, and while he is expected to be ready to go when the season begins, his health always will be a concern. If the A's are to contend, they need him to be the leader of the staff and to make at least 30 starts.
He made $1.2 million last year and earned a $500,000 bonus for making the All-Star team.
