Cashner, Pestano argue arbitration cases

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) San Diego's Andrew Cashner and Cleveland's Vinnie Pestano argued their cases Friday at baseball's first salary arbitration hearings in two years.

Eligible for the first time, Cashner asked for a raise from $500,800 to $2.4 million during the morning session before arbitrators Gil Vernon, Elizabeth Neumeister and Robert Herzog. The Padres pushed for their figure of $2,275,000.

The 27-year-old right-hander was 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 26 starts and five relief appearances last year.

Pestano, among four Indians left in arbitration, asked arbitrators Matt Irvings, Matt Goldberg and Steven Wolf for a raise from $501,900 to $1.45 million and was offered $975,000. A right-hander who turns 29 on Feb. 20, Pestano was 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 37 relief appearances last year.

Decisions are expected this weekend.

Most of the 146 players who filed for arbitration have settled, and four Indians were among the 16 still scheduled for hearings going into Friday. Pestano was joined by outfielder Michael Brantley and right-handers Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin.

No player had gone to a hearing since Feb. 15, 2012, when Pittsburgh outfielder Garrett Jones argued his case against the Pirates in a case won by the club the following day. Teams won five of seven cases in 2012, giving them a 291-214 margin since arbitration began in 1974.

Last year was the first time all cases settled without any hearings.