Rays' Poche: Arbitrators don't 'fully grasp' baseball

You can count Tampa Bay Rays reliever Colin Poche among the Major League Baseball players upset about the arbitration process.

Arbitrators in Poche's recent hearing sided with the team's $1.175-million salary over his $1.3-million request, and while he harbors no ill will against the team, he said the process irked him.

"I was a little shocked to hear the results, just sitting through the case, hearing the facts that were presented on both sides," Poche said, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "I thought my agency and the lawyers from the players' association made a really strong case. I thought we had a good chance.

"But that's kind of what happens when you leave it up to a panel of arbitrators who have experience in the process, but they're outside the realm of baseball."

The first-year arbitration-eligible player added that the three-person panel took copious notes when his agency cited his 23 holds last year as an important metric, saying that it showed they don't "fully grasp how important that is for (relievers who aren't closers)."

Poche enjoyed a promising debut campaign in 2019, posting a 34.8% strikeout rate. However, he had a 9.2% walk rate and 1.57 home runs per nine innings, which equated to a 4.70 ERA and 4.08 FIP in 51 2/3 innings over 51 appearances. He missed the subsequent two seasons after requiring Tommy John surgery.

The left-hander returned last year and authored a 3.99 ERA and 4.54 FIP while posting similar walk and homer numbers and regressing to a 26.1% strikeout rate in 58 2/3 innings while making 65 appearances.

He recorded 39 holds and nine saves with 10 blown saves over his career.

Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes recently sounded off about the arbitration process, directing frustration at his team for arguing to suppress his salary. Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette called the process "flawed" and bad for the sport last Monday.