PHOENIX – Drew Smyly and the Tampa Bay Rays have argued baseball’s first salary arbitration case this year.
The 26-year-old left-hander asked arbitrators Elizabeth Neumeier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte for a raise from $2.65 million to $3.75 million during a hearing today. The Rays argued for $3.2 million.
A decision is expected on Thursday.
Smyly was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts last season with 77 strikeouts and 20 walks in 66 2-3 innings. He started the season on the disabled list because of left shoulder tendinitis, made three starts from April 24 to May 5, then went back on the DL until Aug.