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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:51 a.m., Tuesday, February 10, 2009

MLB: Rays beat catcher Navarro in arbitration

Associated Press

PHOENIX — All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in salary arbitration today 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.