New York — Scott Rolen led a parade of 32 players in arbitration who agreed to contracts Friday, and the Philadelphia Phillies third baseman received an $8.6 million, one-year deal.
Just 42 players exchanged figures with their teams from among the 93 players who were in arbitration earlier in the week. The other 51 already have settled.
Rolen, eligible for free agency after this season, refused Philadelphia's attempts to negotiate a multiyear contract.
"We'd still like to have him be a Phillie for his entire career," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said.
Other players who received big deals were Boston reliever Ugueth Urbina ($6.7 million), Phillies right-hander Robert Person ($6.25 million), Montreal right-hander Javier Vazquez ($4,725,000), Atlanta right-hander Kevin Millwood ($3.9 million), Seattle right-hander Freddy Garcia ($3.8 million) and Chicago Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood ($3,695,000).
Baltimore right-hander Jason Johnson received the only multiyear deal, a $4.7 million, two-year contract.
Among the players who exchanged numbers, the Yankees' Jorge Posada asked for the most, $7.75 million. New York offered $6.7 million to its All-Star catcher, who is negotiating a five-year contract at about $50 million.
Shawn Estes, the left-hander acquired by the Mets from San Francisco during the offseason, had the second-highest filing at $7.1 million. The Mets offered $5.8 million.
Outfielder Dmitri Young, acquired by Detroit from Cincinnati during the winter meetings last month, asked for $6.15 million and was offered $5 million. Kansas City shortstop Neifi Perez asked for $5 million and was offered $4.1 million.
Toronto right-hander Chris Carpenter had the biggest difference between figures at $1.4 million: He asked for $4.5 million and was offered $3.1 million.
Tampa Bay second baseman Russ Johnson had the smallest difference at $150,000, asking for $700,000 as the Devil Rays countered at $550,000.
In a rare attempt to cut the salary of a player in arbitration, Montreal offered $1.2 million to right-hander Carl Pavano, $100,000 below his pay last year. Pavano, 1-6 with a 6.33 ERA last season, asked for $1,425,000.
Among free agents, outfielder Ron Gant agreed to a minor league contract with San Diego and right-hander Hector Carrasco agreed to a minor league contract with Texas.
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