Milwaukee outfielder Corey Hart beats Brewers in first salary arbitration hearing this year

Hart beats Brewers in salary arbitration

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Outfielder Corey Hart beat the Brewers in Milwaukee’s first salary arbitration hearing in 12 years.

Hart was awarded a raise from $3.25 million to $4.8 million by a panel of arbitrators on Friday instead of the Brewers’ offer of $4.15 million.

In the first case in the major leagues to go to a hearing this year, arbitrators Elizabeth Neumeier, John Sands and Sylvia Skratek issued their decision one day after hearing arguments. Ten additional players are scheduled for hearings through next week.

Hart hit .260 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs last season.

The previous Milwaukee player to go to a hearing had been Jose Mercedes, awarded $1.05 million in 1998 by Roger Abrams, Jerome Ross and Gil Vernon rather than the team’s offer of $615,000. Mercedes had gone 7-10 with a 3.79 ERA in 23 starts and six relief appearances the previous season.

Players won two of three hearings last year, their first winning record since going 7-3 in 1996. Last year tied the record for fewest hearings in a year, set in 2005.

Owners hold a 280-208 margin in cases that have gone to hearings since arbitration began in 1974.

Still scheduled for hearings are: Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, Washington right-hander Brian Bruney, Nationals left-hander Sean Burnett, Baltimore right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, Arizona right-hander Edwin Jackson, Angels catcher Jeff Mathis, Houston left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, Florida outfielder Cody Ross, Chicago Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot and Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton.

Tim Lincecum, a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, reached a preliminary agreement on a $23 million, two-year contract ahead of the scheduled start of his hearing Friday.