Sports

Betts beats Boston in 1st arbitration case, gets $10.5M

31 of January 2018

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2017, file photo, Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts runs onto the field for Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Houston Astros in Boston. Betts and the Red Sox have argued the first salary arbitration case of the year, with the All-Star outfielder asking for a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million and the team offering $7.5 million. Arbitrators Dan Brent, Mark Burstein, Phillip LaPorte heard arguments Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, and a decision is expected Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File),FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2017, file photo, Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts runs onto the field for Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Houston Astros in Boston. Betts and the Red Sox have argued the first salary arbitration case of the year, with the All-Star outfielder asking for a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million and the team offering $7.5 million. Arbitrators Dan Brent, Mark Burstein, Phillip LaPorte heard arguments Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, and a decision is expected Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Mookie Betts has beaten 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. 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.

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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