NEW YORK — Prince Fielder, AL MVP Josh Hamilton, major-league home run champion Jose Bautista and Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon headed 119 players who filed for salary arbitration Friday.
All expect to get large raises, either in settlements or in cases that go to hearings next month.
Fielder made $11.25 million with the Brewers last year, when he hit .261 with 32 homers and 114 RBIs. He is eligible for free agency after next season.
Papelbon, who also can become a free agent after the season, made $9.35 million last year. He was 5-7 with a 3.90 ERA — two runs higher than in 2009 — striking out 76 in 67 innings.
Hamilton, not eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season, batted a major league-best .359 with 32 homers and 100 RBIs last year, continuing his resurgence following cocaine and alcohol addiction. He missed much of the last month of the regular season because of broken ribs.
Bautista set a Toronto record with 54 home runs.
About half the players in arbitration are expected to settle by Tuesday, when players and their clubs swap proposed salaries. Only a handful typically take their cases to hearings.
Three players settled Friday before the filing: right-hander Matt Belisle and Colorado agreed at $2.35 million, reliever Joel Zumaya and Detroit agreed at $1.4 million, and outfielder Alex Gordon and Kansas City agreed at $1.4 million.
Among free agents, designated hitter Jim Thome stayed with the Twins for a $3 million, one-year deal, and former Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis and the Royals agreed to a one-year contract worth about $2 million.
“It’s great to be back,” Thome said. “Minnesota’s a wonderful place.”
Thome, 40, hit .283 with 25 homers and 59 RBIs in 276 at-bats last year while making $1.5 million on a one-year contract. His new deal includes performance bonuses for plate appearances. Thome ranks eighth with 589 homers.
“My plan is to possibly play two more years,” he said.
Also, the Phillies agreed to a minor-league contract with Matt Anderson, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 2005 with Colorado.
