ESPN.com · Feb 16, 2017
Tony Watson loses in arbitration, gets $5.6 million
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Reliever Tony Watson has lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in salary arbitration and will make $5.6 million this year rather than $6 million.
Arbitrators Gil Vernon, Jeanne Wood and Steven Wolf made their decision Thursday, a day after hearing arguments.
Watson had a 3.06 ERA in 70 relief appearances for the Pirates last year along with a 2-5 record. The 31-year-old left-hander earned $3.45 million.
He was an All-Star in 2014, when he was 10-2 with a 1.63 ERA. He had a 1.91 ERA in 2015.
Watson is eligible for free agency after this season.