Free Agent Arbitration Primer

What does it mean when we say a free agent was offered arbitration? When a team offers arbitration to one of its own free agents, it is offering the player a 2010 contract at a to-be-determined salary. Last year, out of 24 such offers, only two players (Darren Oliver and David Weathers) accepted. One reason "offering arbitration" to free agents is confusing is that the actual process of arbitration rarely comes into play. Even with Oliver and Weathers last year, the sides agreed on 2010 salaries without arbitration hearings. In an arbitration hearing, a third-party panel must choose between one...