PHOENIX (AP) - All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in salary arbitration on Tuesday and will receive the team's $2.1 million offer rather than his $2.5 million request.
Navarro was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting a team-high .295 with seven homers and 54 RBIs last year, when he was selected to his first All-Star game. He made $432,500.Tampa Bay reached the World Series for the first time, losing to Philadelphia. Navarro batted .353 (6-for-17) with no RBIs in the five-game loss to the Phillies.
Arbitrators Elizabeth Neumeier, James Oldham and Steven Wolf heard the case Monday.
Navarro became the second player to go to a hearing this year. Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill was awarded $775,000 on Saturday rather than the team's proposal of $500,000.
Fifteen players remain scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 20.
Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today
