CINCINNATI — Cincinnati pitcher Graham Ashcraft has argued his salary arbitration case with the Cincinnati Reds, asking for a raise to $1.75 million rather than the team’s $1.25 million offer.
A right-hander who turns 28 next week, Ashcraft was 8-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 62 relief appearances last year, striking out 64 and walking 25 in 65 1/3 innings. He had a $780,000 salary.
Ashcraft is 25-25 with a 4.76 ERA in four major league seasons.
Keith Greenberg, Howard Edelman and Rob Herman heard arguments Thursday and their decision was expected on Friday.
Also Friday, a decision was expected to be unsealed in the case of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta, which was the first case of the year, argued Jan. 29. The 28-year-old right-hander asked for $1,525,000.
Uceta was eligible for arbitration for the first time after going 10-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 70 relief appearances last year. He was a so-called Super Two, eligible because he has 2 years, 150 days of major league service — 10 days above the cutoff for this year’s arbitration class.