The Milwaukee Brewers offered salary arbitration to three of their free agents, including left handed starter CC Sabathia. They also offered arbitration to Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse, but declined an offer to $10-million bust Eric Gagne.
Sabathia and Sheets are both Class A free agents and if they sign with other clubs, the Brewers will get two draft picks in return next June. Shouse is a Class B free agent and the Brewers would get one compensation pick if he signs elsewhere.
Players have until Sunday to accept the arbitration offer. If they do, they are considered signed for the 2009 season at a salary yet to be determined.
Sabathia already has free agent offers on the table from the Yankees and Brewers, so he won't accept the arbitration offer. What Sheets and Shouse end up doing will depend on other potential offers from Major League clubs.
