Neither Mitch Moreland nor the Texas Rangers wanted to go to their arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday morning in Arizona, but both sides were prepared to do it — the first arbitration hearing the Rangers would've had since 2000 when they beat Lee Stevens.
On Wednesday after the two sides reached an 11th-hour settlement for just $300,000 less than Moreland's requested $6 million, Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine credited Moreland for being front and center in pushing for the deal.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Moreland stumbled upon a meeting between Levine and his arbitration specialist in the lobby of a Phoenix hotel late Tuesday and stepped in personally, a rare instance for any player.
"It is not common for a player to talk directly to a member of the front office, but Mitch has uncommon conviction and integrity," Levine said. "Mitch was instrumental in us being able to come to an agreement."
The agreement meant no uncomfortable, awkward hearing that pits the sides against each other. It also means a happy Moreland in 2016 — likely his last with the Rangers as he's set to become a free agent next winter — after he put up career numbers in 2015.
