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Hart, Weeks prefer a deal over an ordeal: Each wants to strike bargain

Corey Hart has heard the horror stories about players being taken apart by their employers in salary arbitration hearings.

“I don’t think anybody wants to go (to a hearing),” the Milwaukee Brewers rightfielder said. “You’re hopeful that something gets done (with a new contract) because of what can happen there.”

To avoid a hearing, the Brewers and Hart must close a considerable gap in the arbitration figures they submitted. Hart requested a $3.8 million salary, with the Brewers offering $2.7 million.

A sizable gap also must be bridged with the other Brewer remaining in arbitration, second baseman Rickie Weeks. He submitted a $2.8 million request and the club came in at an even $2 million.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Hart admitted that he was somewhat taken aback by the difference in the figures submitted for his case.

“It’s a big gap,” said Hart, who made $444,000 last season. “I was surprised. You never know what to expect.”

Hart, 27, batted .268 with 45 doubles, 20 home runs and 91 runs batted in last season in 157 games. He made the National League all-star team for the first time in online balloting by fans.

But Hart understands that clubs are compelled to note a player’s shortcomings if arbitration cases make it to a hearing before a three-person panel instructed to pick one figure or the other. For instance, the Brewers would point out that Hart slipped badly in the second half (.239, 5 HRs, 33 RBI) and almost completely disappeared in September (.172, 0, 10) when the team was fighting for a playoff berth.

“You hear horror stories about all the negativity,” said Hart, who participated in the club’s weekend fan festivities. “You want to get something done (ahead of a hearing) because you don’t want to make anybody mad. I love being here. I want to make sure they know that.”

Weeks expressed similar uncertainty about where his case might be headed. He made $1.056 million in 2008 in his first year of arbitration eligibility and went on to bat .234 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 89 runs scored and 19 stolen bases as an erratic leadoff hitter.

“We’re still talking,” said Weeks, who also took part in the weekend events. “I’m hoping we can get something done.

“Nobody wants to go to a hearing, but if you have to, you have to. I’m just trying to stay positive and hope for the best.”

The Brewers have not been to an arbitration hearing since Doug Melvin became general manager at the end of the 2002 season. The team avoided what some thought might be a contentious hearing with first baseman Prince Fielder by quickly reaching agreement with agent Scott Boras on a two-year, $18 million contract.

“The arbitration system pits players and teams against each other at a bad time in the player’s career,“ team owner Mark Attanasio said. “The player is just hitting his stride and has to deal with these issues.

“Maybe that’s the reason Doug Melvin has never gone to arbitration with one of his players. That doesn’t mean we won’t go to arbitration. We’re not going to just be fleeced. But if there’s a clear deal to be had, and Scott Boras proposed a fair deal to us, we want to do a fair deal.”

Attanasio said the Brewers were open to multi-year proposals from Jeff Berry and Lon Babby, the agents for Hart and Weeks, respectively. Those hearings aren’t scheduled until the third week in February, so there is time to negotiate.

No matter how those talks pan out, Attanasio said the plan was to look closely at every young player on the team after spring camp opens and decide who merits multi-year proposals for contract extensions. Attanasio said he hadn’t given up on a longer deal with Fielder even though the young slugger turned down a five-year, $60 million proposal early last season.

The Brewers have only one core player signed to a long-term deal, leftfielder Ryan Braun, who accepted an eight-year, $45 million extension last year.

“We’re going to revisit that in spring training, looking at all of our young players, whether we want to extend them with longer term contracts or not,” Attanasio said. “It’s got to be a two-way street.

“We’re going to look at the whole group of players, all of our young players, such as Yovani Gallardo. At some point, there is a zero-sum game in our resources. But we’re going to look at deals for all of our young players to try to get them under contract.”

Hart, who turned down a long-term proposal last year, said he was still open to that kind of deal.

“I think it could happen,“ he said.” We all want to be like ‘Braunie’ and Prince and have that kind of security and be a part of this team for a long time.“

Counsell returns

Craig Counsell and the Milwaukee Brewers completed a $1 million, one-year contract on Monday after the veteran infielder passed a physical.

The 38-year-old Counsell spent the past two seasons with the Brewers, but the club declined its $3.4 million option on his contract earlier this offseason. He hit .226 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 110 games last year.

Counsell, entering his 14th major league season, grew up in the Milwaukee suburb of Whitefish Bay and will provide infield depth—he can play second base, shortstop and third base. He is a career .255 hitter with 35 homers and 321 RBIs.

Counsell has also played for Colorado, Florida, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona, winning World Series titles with the Marlins in 1997 and Diamondbacks in 2001.

He scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for Florida, and was MVP of the 2001 NL championship series for Arizona.