Hideki Matsui was the most valuable player in the World Series. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) The Yankees declined to offer salary arbitration to World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte, a move that means New York would not receive draft picks as compensation if they sign with other teams.
Tuesday night was the first big deadline of baseball's off-season, with teams having until midnight to make arbitration offers to their former players who became free agents.
Players have until Dec. 7 to accept; if they reject, they still can re-sign with their former clubs at any time.
As of early evening, Houston offered arbitration to pitcher Jose Valverde and Detroit made offers to right-handers Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney.
The Tigers declined offers to left-hander Jarrod Washburn, second baseman Placido Polanco, infielder-outfielder Aubrey Huff and shortstop Adam Everett.
Before 2006, players not offered arbitration could not re-sign with their former clubs from Dec. 8 to April 30, but that provision was eliminated in the latest collective bargaining agreement.
Teams losing top free agents, as defined by a complicated statistical formula, get draft picks next June as compensation.
Type A free agents are among the top 20 per cent of players at their position, as defined by the formula created in the 1981 strike settlement, and Type B are from 21-40 per cent.
Teams receive two extra draft picks if they lose a Type A player and one if they lose a Type B.
