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Will Justin Masterson reach a one-year deal with the Indians without going to arbitration?

(Jim Mone/Associated Press)

Hey, Hoynsie: Since it appears that the Indians will be going to arbitration with Justin Masterson, who has an over inflated notion of his self worth and zero intention of staying in Cleveland beyond this season, what do you perceive his value would be if the Tribe immediately put him on the trade market after arbitration? What type of player package do you think we could get for him? – Dwain Slaven, Dade City, Fla.

Hey, Dwain: I still think the Indians and Masterson will reach a settlement on a one-year deal without going to arbitration. His hearing isn't scheduled until Feb. 20, so there is plenty of time to reach a settlement.

That being said, the Indians know Masterson's value because they floated his name to other teams at the general manager's meetings in December. As a counterpoint, it was at the winter meetings that manager Terry Francona called Masterson and told him he wasn't getting traded.



I think they’re going to have a hard time signing Masterson to a multiyear deal because this is his walk year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll trade him. A lot will depend on how competitive the Indians are at the July and August trade deadlines.

The return for Masterson might not be as big as you think. He’s in his walk year and teams aren’t going to give up much for a rental. Then again, perhaps a desperate contender comes knocking in July or August.

The Indians could always keep him and make him a qualifying offer before he files for free agency after the season.

Hey, Hoynsie: Congrats to Omar Vizquel for getting into the Tribe Hall of Fame. Why isn't Albert Belle in, yet Sandy Alomar Jr. and Carlos Baerga are? How do players get nominated and who votes on the nominees? -– Marty Hart, Cleveland.

Hey, Marty: Any player who has played three years with the Indians is eligible for their hall of fame. The team gets nominations from various media members for two hall of fame categories – players and non-uniformed personnel. I am told the committee that has the final say includes Indians Hall of Famers, front office personnel, media members, baseball historians/authors and select members SABR) Society for American Baseball Research) members.

I know members of the media have nominated Belle in the past, but he has had a stormy relationship with the Indians encompassing his playing days and retirement.

Hey Hoynsie: What are some of the famous arbitration cases that damaged the player/management relationship and caused team's problems? -– Joseph Brown, Cleveland.

Hey, Joseph: The one that changed the Indians thinking on the matter was with Greg Swindell in 1991. Swindell was their best pitcher and he won his arbitration case, but was furious with the case the Indians presented against him to the arbitrator.

That’s when John Hart and Dan O’Dowd decided there had to be a better way to negotiate with their players. They came up with the idea of signing their young players to multiyear deals to avoid the animosity of arbitration.

It sounds like the Tribe’s streak of avoiding arbitration will end this month.

Here’s the won-loss record in arbitration for players and teams from 1974 through 2012: Teams have won 286 times, while players have won 217 times. This year’s hearings started Saturday.

Hey, Hoynsie: In a recent column, you said that you think Jack Morris is a Hall of Famer considering his 254 wins. Some people would argue that wins by a starter are a meaningless stat. So many variables that are outside of his control go into recording a win (i.e. run support, fielding, relievers in some situations). Given that I think we should stop paying attention to wins by pitchers. What is your position? -– Joseph Tablack, Youngstown.

Hey, Joseph: Wins are still the most important stat in baseball and a starting pitcher who is a consistent winner is still one of the most important players on a team. Just ask his manager. Jack Morris did that for the entire decade of the 1980s. That's why he's a Hall of Famer in my mind.