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Navarro, Rays Can't Cut Deal

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Dioner Navarro and the Rays are in negotiations in hopes of avoiding arbitration next week.

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: February 5, 2009

Updated: 02/05/2009 01:19 am

ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays' hopes of avoiding salary arbitration with two of their players got good news and bad news Wednesday.

It doesn't sound like the Rays will be able to preclude a hearing next week with All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro after negotiations for a multiyear deal broke down. Infielder Willy Aybar's agent, however, sounded optimistic his client would come to a two-year deal with the Rays in the coming days.

Navarro's Tampa-based agent, Kendall Almerico, said it was apparent the sides wouldn't be able to reach an agreement by Monday, but they might try to revisit the matter once Navarro's 2009 salary has been determined.

"We both worked at it and made some progress," Almerico said. "The door is definitely open after the arbitration hearing for us to sit down again and talk about a long-term deal, but as of right now we're just too far apart."

The two parties had discussed potential deals ranging anywhere from two to five years, "but ultimately they never approached Navi's market value," according to the agent.

Though Almerico characterized the talks as amicable, he emphasized that Navarro's willingness to head back to the bargaining table in search of a longer-term deal following the hearing likely would depend on how the process unfolds. Arbitration hearings can be contentious, with teams often compelled to openly degrade their own player in an effort to win their case.

If the Rays "come in with guns blazing," Almerico said, "that's going to create some issues."

Navarro has asked for $2.5 million in 2009, while the Rays are offering $2.1 million. The three-person arbitration panel will hear both sides' arguments Monday in Phoenix and choose one of the two figures within a few days. Navarro made $432,500 last season.

The Rays remain in talks with Aybar, whose agent Luis Valdez said Wednesday that he feels good about the possibility of reaching a two-year deal within the next few days.

"We're looking for the second year as something that would be comfortable for the team and comfortable for Willy," Valdez said.

Aybar is asking for a 2009 salary of $1.05 million in arbitration and the Rays are offering $900,000.

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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