ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox defeated pitcher Fernando Abad in baseball’s first salary arbitration hearing this year Tuesday.
Abad was awarded $2 million by the arbitrators, Robert Herzog, Phillip LaPorte and Dennis Archer, rather than his $2.7 million request. The panel heard the case a day earlier.
Abad, a 31-year-old left-hander, was 1-6 with a 3.66 ERA last year in 57 relief appearances for Minnesota and Boston, which acquired him Aug. 1 for right-hander Pat Light. Abad was 0-2 with a 6.39 earned-run average in 18 games for the Red Sox.
Abad made $1.3 million last year. He can become a free agent after this season.
Boston’s previous hearing was when pitcher Rolando Arrojo was awarded the team’s $1.9 million offer in 2002 instead of his $2.8 million request.
ATHLETICS: Outfielder Khris Davis asked an arbitration panel for a $5 million salary this season, and team argued he should be paid $4.65 million.
The sides appeared before arbitrators Mark Irvings, Gil Vernon and Mark Burstein, who are expected to issue their decision Wednesday.
Davis, Oakland’s regular left fielder, hit .247 for a second straight year, and established career highs of 42 home runs and 102 RBI in his first season with the A’s. He earned $524,500 and was eligible for arbitration for the first time.
MARINERS: Seattle signed left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.
Hagadone became the 23rd invite to spring training by the Mariners.
Hagadone hasn’t pitched in the majors since the middle of the 2015 season before back and elbow troubles landed him on the disabled list. He missed the entire 2016 season after undergoing surgery last February for a fractured left elbow.
NATIONALS: Washington agreed to a minor league contract with longtime former Minnesota closer Joe Nathan.
The team said he’ll report to big league spring training.
Nathan, 42, could be a long-shot addition to Washington’s closer competition after the club lost Mark Melancon as a free agent. Relievers Shawn Kelley and Blake Treinen are internal options to fill that void.
BRAVES: Right-hander Kris Medlen agreed to a minor league contract as he attempts to revive his career with his original team.
Medlin, 31, would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster.
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