Arbitrator rules Yankees must pay Williams $3 million

Jet, March 4, 1996

A baseball salary arbitrator recently ruled that New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams will receive $3 million for 1996, which is $2,555,000 more than the Yankees were offering.

Williams, 27, made $400,000 with the Yankees last season. He hit .307 with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs. The four-year player primarily patrolled center field.

The Yankees failed to reach an agreement with Williams, so the deal had to be settled by a salary arbitrator. The player submits a figure that he requests, and the club submits a figure it believes the player is worth. The arbitrator reviews the player's statistics from the past season and decides whether he should receive the money he requests or what the team offers-there is no middle figure. Both sides must abide by the decision.