Betts beats Boston in 1st arbitration case, gets $10.5M
PHOENIX (AP) Mookie Betts beat the Boston Red Sox in the first salary arbitration case of the year. The All-Star outfielder will get a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million instead of the team's $7.5 million.
Arbitrators Daniel Brent, Mark Burstein and Phillip LaPorte made the decision Wednesday, a day after hearing arguments.
The 25-year-old hit .264 with 24 homers and 102 RBIs last year, when he made his second straight AL All-Star team. He batted .318 with 31 homers and 113 RBIs in 2016.
His gap was the largest among the 27 players who swapped figures with their teams on Jan. 12. Just two of them reached agreements, leaving the rest headed toward hearings, which are scheduled through Feb. 16.
Teams won eight of 15 decisions last winter. Several clubs refused to negotiate after the exchange of proposed arbitration salaries, a so-called file and trial strategy.
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