Rays' Drew Smyly Wins First Salary Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Smyly has won baseball's first salary arbitration case this year.

The three-person panel decided Thursday in Smyly's favor, dealing the Rays their first loss in seven arbitration hearings.

The 26-year-old lefty asked arbitrators Elizabeth Neumeier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte for a raise from $2.65 million to $3.75 million during a hearing Wednesday. The Rays argued for $3.2 million.

Smyly was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts last year. He started the season on the disabled list because of left shoulder tendinitis, made three starts and then went back on the DL until mid-August because of a torn labrum in the shoulder.

Tampa Bay had prevailed over pitcher Esteban Yan (2002), catchers Josh Paul (2006 and 2007) and Dioner Navarro (2009), outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. (2010) and pitcher Jeff Niemann (2012).