[mikev]

Arby Deals and A few good extensions...

The Crusaders announced that they have agreed to contracts with several players in order to avoid arbitration.

30 year old outfielder Edgar Herrera inked a 3 year extension, giving him a raise to $570K per season from 2012-2014. Herrera is a plus-plus defensive outfielder with strong, albeit underdeveloped, 4/4/3/4/3 talents. With an .838 OPS against right handers last season, Herrera figures to be at least the bigger half of an outfield platoon or the primary backup at all 3 positions for the next several seasons.

Next to sign on the dotted line was pitcher Masahiko Hayagawa, another 30 year old. "Griz" first accepted a $1.175M contract for 2012 via arbitration, and then inked a 2 year extension paying him $2.3M for each of the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Then, the big fish: ace Jorge Enriquez, after being awarded $3.2M via arbitration, was signed to a 5 year, $38.5M contract, keeping him with the Crusaders through the end of the 2016 season.

Rumors from front office sources state the Rafael Lopez and Arturo Fernandez are also in negotiations with the team, and are relatively close to agreements.

An anonymous source hinted that the Crusaders are focusing on keeping their homegrown talent and focusing less on what is a relatively weak free agent class this offseason.