Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small have submitted their proposals of how much they think that their services are worth and the Yankees have countered.

Chacon, who earned $2.35 million in 2005, asked for $4.15 million (a 76.6% raise!) and the Yankees countered with an offer of $3.1 million (31.9% raise). Small made $350,000 last season asked for a raise to $1.45 million (a 314.3% raise!!!) and the Yankees countered with $1.025 million (192.9% raise). If they do end up in front of the arbitrator, I think Chacon will probably get the figure he wants based on his years in the league. Chacon might have been able to ask for a little more based on the absurd market for mediocre pitching this off-season (see Washburn, Jarrod) but who knows, there are added benefits for Shawn now that he plays for NY. Small is more of an unknown quantity so the Yankees should have the advantage there. In any case, I think that we can all learn a lesson here: we should have all become professional ballplayers!