NEW YORK – AL MVP Josh Hamilton has asked Texas for $12 million in salary arbitration and major league home run champion Jose Bautista submitted a $10.5 million figure to Toronto.
The Rangers offered Hamilton $8.7 million Tuesday and the Blue Jays proposed $7.6 million to Bautista when teams and players swapped figures.
Of the 119 players who filed for arbitration last Friday, only 37 exchanged proposed salaries with their clubs. Most players have already settled on new deals.
Slugger Prince Fielder and Milwaukee agreed at $15.5 million, the highest one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible player.
Even though Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon was among those who exchanged figures, he already reached a $12 million agreement with the Red Sox.
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