Clack,

Actually there is a brief window in between the arbitration dates and free agency dates when a player can sign with another team before his old team has to make a decision on offering him arbitration. If I remember correctly, the Padres benefitted from this when we signed Woody Williams. However, given Brocail's lackluster finish I don't see another team jumping all over him. I hesitate to offer him arbitration because he will almost certainly get a raise. I think the smarter move is to wait until January and offer him a reduced contract.

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