Amaro: Ryan Howard will have to earn Phillies’ starting 1B job
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(9:44 am ET) Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. stood by his recent comments on the future of Ryan Howard, reiterating that he’ll have to earn the team’s starting job at first base if he’s with the Phillies this season, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

“I think that if Ryan’s with us, and he’s likely to be with us in spring training, I think Ryan’s got to prove to us that he’s ready to play every day at first base for us. I mean I’m kind of looking forward to him being ready and healthy and contributing. Right now, there’s nobody really that can unseat him.”

Howard led the majors last season in strikeouts. He slashed .223/.310/.380 with 23 homers and 95 RBI over 569 at-bats in his first full season in three years. He is under contract through the 2016 season and is set to make $25 million the next two seasons. He also has a $23 million team option for 2017, which includes a $10 million buyout.

Report: Royals’ Jarrod Dyson files for $1.6 million
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson has filed for $1.6 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $900,000, 16 WAPT Sports reports.

Dyson is in his first year of arbitration eligibility this offseason. He hit .269/.324/.327 with one home run, 24 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 260 at-bats in 2014.

Report: Athletics’ Tyler Clippard files for $8.85 million
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Athletics pitcher Tyler Clippard has filed for $8.85 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $7.775 million, 16 WAPT Sports reports.

Clippard is in his final year of arbitration eligibility this offseason. The reliever was acquired from the Nationals earlier this week after posting a 2.18 ERA and 82:23 K:BB ratio in 70 1/3 innings in 2014.

Report: Giants swap arbitration figures with Belt, Blanco
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has filed for $4.5 million in arbitration while outfielder Gregor Blanco has filed for $4 million, 16 WAPT Sports reports.

The team has offered Belt $3 million and Blanco $3.3 million. Belt is in his first year of arbitration eligibility while Blanco is eligible for arbitration for a second year.

Report: Orioles 1B Chris Davis to earn $12 million in 2015
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Orioles first baseman Chris Davis will earn $12 million in 2015 after agreeing to a one-year deal with the team and avoiding arbitration, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Davis’ contract also includes incentives for reaching 550 and 575 plate appearances as well as bonuses for All Star, Gold Golve and Silver Slugger awards. Eligible for arbitration for the final time this offseason, the first baseman hit .196/.300/.404 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI in 450 at-bats in 2014.

Report: Royals’ Danny Duffy files for $3 million in arbitration
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Royals pitcher Danny Duffy has filed for $3 million in arbitration, with the team offering $1.75 million, Fangraphs reports.

Duffy is in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He went 9-12 with a 2.53 ERA and 113:53 K:BB ratio in 149 1/3 innings in 2014.

Report: Nationals’ Jerry Blevins files for $2.4 million
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Nationals pitcher Jerry Blevins has filed for $2.4 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $2.2 million, Fangraphs reports.

Blevins is eligible for arbitration for the final time this offseason, and the two sides may be able to settle in the middle with such a small gap between filed figures. He posted a 4.87 ERA and 66:23 K:BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings in 2014.

Report: Reds’ Todd Frazier files for $5.7 million
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Reds third baseman Todd Frazier has filed for $5.7 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $3.9 million, MLB.com reports.

Frazier is eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. He hit .273/.336/.459 with 29 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 597 at-bats in 2014.

Report: Red Sox OF Daniel Nava files for $2.25 million
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava has filed for $2.25 million in arbitration, while the team has countered by filing for $1.3 million, Fangraphs reports.

Nava is in his first year of arbitration eligibility this offseason. He hit .270/.346/.361 with four home runs and 37 RBI in 363 at-bats in 2014.

Report: Marlins swap arbitration figures with Phelps, Dunn
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1/16/2015) Marlins pitcher David Phelps has filed for $1.875 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $1.4 million, Fangraphs reports. Pitcher Mike Dunn has filed for $2.6 million, and the team has offered $2.355 million.

Phelps, who was acquired from the Yankees in a trade announced in mid-December, is in his first-year of arbitration eligibility. He went 5-5 with a 4.38 ERA and 92:46 K:BB ratio in 113 innings in 2014.

Dunn is eligible for arbitration for the second year this offseason. He delivered a 3.16 ERA and 67:22 K:BB ratio in 57 relief innings in 2014.