CINCINNATI (AP) — Pitcher Lucas Sims lost to the Cincinnati Reds in salary arbitration on Thursday and will get $1.2 million instead of his $1.6 million request, leaving clubs with a 7-3 advantage in decisions with five cases remaining.
Margaret Brogan, Robert Herzog and Jeanne Vonhof issued the decision, a day after hearing arguments.
Sims was 5-3 with a 4.40 ERA and seven saves in 10 chances last season, striking out 76 and walking 18 in 47 innings. He earned $598,500 and was eligible for arbitration for the first time.
A 28-year-old right-hander, Sims is 1-0 with a 9.45 ERA in six appearances this season. He started the season on the injured list because of back spasms, pitched for the Reds from April 23 to May 10, then went back on the IL because his back.
Catchers Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs ($9,625,000) and Gary Sánchez of the Minnesota Twins ($9 million) reached agreement at their midpoints on Thursday that avoided hearings.
No statistics or evidence from after March 1 are admissible other than contract and salary comparisons. The timing was set when Major League Baseball and the players’ association agreed to the deal that ended the lockout.
Losing their decisions earlier were Atlanta outfielder Adam Duvall ($9,275,000), Braves third baseman Austin Riley ($3.95 million), injured Atlanta reliever Luke Jackson ($3.6 million), St. Louis outfielder Tyler O’Neill ($3.4 million), Miami right-hander Pablo López ($2.45 million) and Milwaukee right-hander Adrian Houser ($2,425,000).
Winning were Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson ($10 million), Seattle second baseman/outfielder Adam Frazier ($8 million) and Kansas City outfielder Andrew Benintendi ($8.5 million).
Arbitration hearings usually are held during the first three weeks of February but were delayed by the lockout.
Hearings are scheduled through June 24. Other players still on track for hearings include New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Atlanta left-hander Max Fried, Miami catcher Jacob Stallings, Seattle outfielder Jesse Winker and Kansas City second baseman Nicky Lopez.
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