Baseball betting had two players avoiding arbitration as Casey Kotchman and the Mariners reached a deal while Scott Hairston and the Padres came to terms.
Both players could prove to be important to the Mariners and the Padres in MLB betting. Baseball betting stats had Kotchman and the Mariners agreeing on a one-year contract worth just over $3.5 million. Kotchman is a great defensive first baseman and will be replacing Russell Branyan at first base. Kotchman is not a great power hitter but the Mariners want him for his defense.
He has not made an error in his last 185 games. In fact, he didn’t make an error at all last year. He is the third first baseman in major league history with a perfect season when playing at least 108 games. Kotchman was looking for a $3.9 million dollar deal while the Mariners offered just over $3.1 million. The sides pretty much compromised in the middle. Whether or not Kotchman can hit enough is a big question though especially since Branyan had a very good baseball betting year for the Mariners in 2009.
In the other baseball betting deal it was Scott Hairston and the Padres coming to a deal. They agreed on a one-year contract worth $2.45 million. Hairston wanted $2.9 million and the team offered $2.1 million. Hairston was with the Padres until being traded last July to Oakland. MLB betting had the Padres getting him back though in a deal that sent Kevin Kouzmanoff to the A’s.
The Mariners are getting a lot of attention in baseball betting futures as they are down to 18-1 to win the World Series. Seattle has made a lot of off-season changes to improve their team and they are considered right with the Angels now in the American League West. Many who look at MLB betting like that the Mariners have perhaps the best starting duo in baseball with Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee. Baseball betting also has the lineup looking improved as Chone Figgins left the Angels and signed with Seattle.
The Padres are still considered big longshots in baseball betting. They are 75-1 in MLB betting to win the World Series. San Diego has made some minor deals but still look to be a team that will be in last place in a very tough National League West with the Dodgers, Giants and Diamondbacks.