Arbitrators rule for Astros; Loretta gets $750K pay cut

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Houston Astros defeated former All-Star Mark Loretta in salary arbitration Tuesday, improving teams to 5-0 against players this year and clinching the 12th consecutive winning year for management.

Loretta, 36, will be paid $2.75 million rather than the $4.9 million he requested.

"There is a little bit of emotion, because you're trying to win," Loretta said after his first workout with the team. "But I think both sides felt like they had good cases. It could've gone either way."

He hit .287 with four home runs and 41 RBI in 133 games last year. A two-time All-Star, Loretta appeared at all four infield positions, playing mostly at shortstop (72 games) after Adam Everett broke his right leg June 14.

Loretta made $3.5 million last season, became a free agent, then accepted the Astros' offer of arbitration.

His case was heard Monday by arbitrators Margaret Brogan, Stephen Goldberg and Fredric Horowitz.

"I'm not quite sure what arbitrators are going to take into account in that situation," Loretta said. "But I thought the club handled it very well, they're very professional. There was no personal attack.

"You hear horror stories about arbitration. I certainly didn't anticipate this would be contentious, and it wasn't."

Owners also defeated pitchers Brian Fuentes of Colorado, Jose Valverde of Houston and Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees, along with Washington infielder Felipe Lopez.

Three players remain in arbitration: Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez and New York Mets pitcher Oliver Perez.