Outfielder Cody Ross and Florida Marlins go to salary arbitration hearing

Cody Ross and Marlins go to salary arbitration

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Marlins outfielder Cody Ross has gone to salary arbitration, asking for $4.45 million rather than the team’s offer of $4.2 million.

Arbitrators James Oldham, Margaret Brogan and Howard Edelman are expected to issue a decision Tuesday, a day after hearing arguments.

Ross hit .290 with 24 homers and 90 RBIs last season, when he made $2.3 million.

Players and owners have split the two decisions this far, with Milwaukee outfielder Corey Hart winning ($4.8 million) and Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton losing ($3 million).

Three hearings equals the record-tying low total of cases that went to arbitrators last year, when Florida’s Dan Uggla and Washington’s Shawn Hill won and Tampa Bay’s Dioner Navarro lost.

Six more players are scheduled for hearings this week: Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar and catcher Jeff Mathis; Washington right-hander Brian Bruney and left-hander Sean Burnett; Houston left-hander Wandy Rodriguez and Chicago Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot.

Also, the Marlins said Monday they have agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Jason Lane, who last played in the major leagues in 2007 with Houston and San Diego. He hit .253 with 13 homers and 47 RBIs last year for Toronto’s Triple-A team at Las Vegas.