Brewers beat reliever Veras in salary arbitration

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (AP) - Milwaukee has won its arbitration case against reliever Jose Veras, giving teams a 4-2 lead over players this year.

Veras was awarded a $2 million salary by a three-person panel Tuesday rather than his request for $2,375,000. Arbitrators Dan Brent, Marlene Gold and John Sands made the decision one day after hearing arguments.

Veras was 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA in a career-high 79 appearances for Pittsburgh last season, when he made $1.35 million. The right-hander, who also played for the Yankees, Cleveland and Florida, was obtained on Dec. 12 for third baseman Casey McGehee.

Two years ago, outfielder Corey Hart beat the Brewers in Milwaukee’s first case since Jose Mercedes won in 1998. Sands was on the panel for Hart’s case.

Washington’s John Lannan, Tampa Bay’s Jeff Niemann and Baltimore’s Brad Bergesen also lost their cases. Miami’s Anibal Sanchez and Emilio Bonifacio won.

Three players remain scheduled for hearings this week.

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