The Mets and Orioles will adopt a “file-and-trial” approach to their arbitration-eligible players this year, as Marc Carig of Newsday (via Twitter) and Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun (also on Twitter) report. That means that the organizations will only negotiate with players up until tomorrow’s 1pm EST deadline to exchange filing figures; if no deal is found with a given player, they’ll take the case to arbitration.
MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes explained the “file-and-trial” stance a few years back. Some organizations adopt it as a blanket rule, with at least some of those willing to make exceptions only in cases of multi-year arrangements. Others will utilize it on a case-by-case basis, notifying certain players of that intention in the course of negotiations.
It’s always tough to keep tabs on precisely which teams utilize this strategy, and it can certainly change — especially with front office turnover. At last check, though, file-and-trial teams include the Astros, Blue Jays, Braves, Marlins, Rays, and White Sox.  And there are at least five others that seem to take that approach with some players: the Brewers, Indians, Nationals, Pirates, and Reds.
By adopting this approach, the New York and Baltimore organizations have turned up the heat on their final talks with arb-eligible players. As things stand, the O’s have yet to reach terms with a variety of notable players, led by Zach Britton, Manny Machado, Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, and Jonathan Schoop. The club also has to work out salaries with Brad Brach and Caleb Joseph. It’s not an easy season for the Mets, either; they have yet to settle with Addison Reed, Jeurys Familia, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Wilmer Flores, Travis d’Arnaud, and Josh Edgin.
As always, you can view MLBTR’s arbitration projects right here, and track the players who have and haven’t agreed to terms with our arbitration tracker.
Coincidentally, “file and trial” is also the approach used by the Mets’ medical staff.
And Padres medical staff “don’t file and go to trial”
True
Early contender for comment of the year.
The Orioles arb attorney is a beast, undefeated for a while now. I’d expect many players to reach prior.
This is also why the Os have a hard time retaining their own FAs. When you run your players down in arbitration they tend to not want to still play for you.
What FA have the Os not kept that they would have liked to? I can’t think of one from the past few years.
Yeah, previous comment as asinine as could be
There record in Arb hearings really has nothing to do with retaining FA. The last time the Orioles lost a case was 1995 with Ben McDonald. Since then they’ve only gone to hearings 8 times. In 20+ years.
Another of my favorite myths is that the no one will play in Baltimore because their doctors are so mean and don’t just pass everyone on their physical then give them a lollipop.
Well you pay them enough money in FA and they tend to want to play for you no matter what they said about you in arbitration. Grow up.
Is there any information on attorneys W-L records in arb cases?
I’m more interested in their WAR.