ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Martinez's arbitration case has been scheduled for Feb. 8, MLB.com has learned. During that hearing, an arbitration panel will determine Martinez's salary for the upcoming season.
Hearings for unsigned arbitration-eligible players began on Monday and will continue through Feb. 17. The Cardinals also plan to go to a hearing to settle their case with Michael Wacha. The date of that hearing is not yet known. Both Martinez and Wacha are arbitration-eligible for the first time.
These hearings will be the first for the organization since the club won it's case against left-hander Darren Oliver in 1999. General manager John Mozeliak noted that the front office recently shifted to a file-and-trial philosophy, meaning that any players still unsigned when arbitration numbers are exchanged in mid-January will have their cases settled at a hearing.
In previous years, the Cardinals were open to negotiating up until a scheduled hearing.
Martinez filed for a salary of $4.25 million next season, while the Cardinals submitted a figure of $3.9 million. Wacha requested $3.2 million; the Cardinals countered at $2.775 million. The arbitration panel will choose one of the two figures for each player. There is no meeting at the midpoint.
The Cardinals did explore a multiyear extension for Martinez, but they tabled those talks earlier this month. However, both parties have expressed interest in revisiting those discussions at a later date. As it is, Martinez is under team control through the 2019 season.