ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alfonso Soriano lost to the
Washington Nationals in salary arbitration Friday and will receive
$10 million rather than his request for $12 million.
Even with the loss, the All-Star second baseman set a record for
the highest salary awarded in arbitration, topping the $8.2 million
Andruw Jones earned in 2001 when he beat the Braves.
Soriano spent the last two seasons with Texas and hit .268 last
year with 36 homers, 104 RBI and 30 stolen bases. He made $7.5
million.
Washington acquired him for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and
Terrmel Sledge, and minor league pitcher Armando Galarraga. The
Nationals want to shift Soriano from second base to the outfield, a
move he is reluctant to make.
Soriano is eligible for free agency after this season.
The decision was made by Richard Bloch, Elizabeth Neumeier and
Elliott Shriftman, who head the case Thursday.
Owners have won two of three cases decided this year. Colorado
defeated pitcher Sunny Kim, and outfielder Emil Brown beat Kansas
City.