As someone who doesn't get overly thrilled or excited over arbitration news, I'm happy to see that only 24 players were offered it before last night's deadline. Mostly because it means we'll only have to fret over whether two dozen guys will accept the offers —  and most of the lucky oat-sowers surely won't — before the Dec. 7 deadline. 

You know who probably isn't happy to see clubs not getting clingy at the last moment, though? Guys like the Phillies' Pat Burrell. Once thought to be a surefire arb recipient, Burrell was informed on Monday that the Phillies weren't going to take the risk of having him find a dry market for outfielders and then come back to the Phils at an increased price they aren't willing to pay.

Here's one of the smartest takes I've read on the lack of arbitration offerings this season. 

The Phillies are not alone in this free agent tactic. As one reader put it "The fact that so many teams refused to offer arbitration to their pending FAs tells me that many teams see significantly reduced revenue for 2009 and they do not want to risk high arbitration awards just to secure additional draft picks. In an uncertain economy, with the possibility of decreased revenues, and very tight money, additional investment in a high risk, longterm return draft pick does not look quite so attractive." [Beerleaguer]

Might this be another harbinger for some cautious baseball belt-tightening for '09?

A few other links from around the league ...

• If you're a fan of a team looking to give up some draft picks, the fellas at Walkoff Walk have a handy-dandy guide to both the players who were offered arbitration and also those players who'll come on the cheap because they weren't offered arb. [WoW]

• Question #1: When the Braves shipped Mike LHampton to the Astros on Monday, was he packed in bubble wrap? Question #2: After receiving his new free agent via UPS, did Astros GM Ed Wade look at the "Fragile" stamped on the box and say, "Must be Italian?" [Bugs & Cranks]

• The Cubs-Kerry Wood divorce is now officially official. [Wrigleyville23]

• Anyone else catch A-Rod's outfit at that Madonna concert in Miami? I don't believe I've ever used the word "foppish" here on the Stew, but there's a first ... [LoHud Yankees Blog]

• Blue Jays owner Ted Rogers passed away Monday at the age of 75. [Tao of Stieb]