By RONALD BLUM
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO — Washington reliever Drew Storen, who failed to hold a ninth-inning lead against St. Louis in Game 5 of the NL division series, is among six extra players eligible for salary arbitration this winter under baseball’s new labor contract.
San Diego shortstop Everth Cabrera, New York Mets catcher Josh Thole, Tampa Bay outfielder Sam Fuld, Colorado outfielder Tyler Colvin and third baseman Chris Johnson also are eligible because of the new deal, Major League Baseball and the players’ union agreed Tuesday.
Under the labor contract agreed to last November, the top 22 percent of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration along with the 3-to-6 year players. From 1991 through last year, the top 17 percent in the 2-to-3-year group had been eligible.
The cutoff was 2 years, 139 days, down from what would have been 2 years, 144 days under the old rule. Seattle outfielder Michael Saunders still fell one day short.
Others eligible this winter in the so-called Super 2s group are San Francisco catcher Buster Posey and outfielder Gregor Blanco; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis and reliever Ronald Belisario; Baltimore left-handers Brian Matusz and Troy Patton; Milwaukee closer John Axford; Mets first baseman Ike Davis; Pittsburgh second baseman Neil Walker; Los Angeles Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen; Oakland first baseman Brandon Moss; Nationals reliever Craig Stamman; Atlanta pitcher Cristhian Martinez; Philadelphia reliever David Herndon; Cincinnati outfielder Chris Heisey and reliever Logan Ondursek; Minnesota catcher Drew Butera; Miami catcher Brett Hayes; Chicago Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena; and Kansas City pitcher Blake Wood.
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro would have been eligible but agreed in August to a $60 million, seven-year contract. Matusz’s contract includes a $700,000 team option, but he can void it because he is arbitration eligible.