Braves beat Shane Greene in salary arbitration

PHOENIX – The Atlanta Braves defeated Shane Greene in the first salary arbitration case this year, and the reliever will be paid $6.25 million instead of his request for $6.75 million.

Arbitrators Gary Kendellen, Brian Keller and Allen Ponak made the decision Wednesday, a day after hearing arguments. A 31-year-old right-hander, Greene was a first-time All-Star last year, when he made $4 million.

Minnesota Twins right-hander, eligible for arbitration for the first time, asked for a raise from $620,000 to $4.4 million in the second hearing of the year. Minnesota offered $4,025,000. The case was heard Wednesday by Frederic Horowitz, Andrew Strongin and Margaret Brogan.

Greene had a 2.30 ERA in 65 relief appearances with 64 strikeouts and 17 walks in 62 2/3 innings for Detroit and Atlanta, which acquired him at the July 31 trade deadline. He had a 4.01 ERA in 27 games for the Braves and allowed a tying eighth-inning single to Yadier Molina in Game 4 of the NL Division Series against St. Louis, which rallied to win in 10 innings. The Cardinals won Game 5, then were swept by Washington in the NL Championship Series.

Greene is eligible for free agency after this season.

Berrios, a 25-year-old right-hander, was 14-8 with a 3.68 ERA in 32 starts last year for the AL Central champions, striking out 195 and walking 51. He started the Division Series opener against the New York Yankees and did not get a decision, allowing three runs – one earned – in four innings.

Sixteen players remain scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 21.