Perez wins arbitration with Mets, gets $4 million-plus raise

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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Pitcher Oliver Perez won his salary arbitration case against the New York Mets on Friday and will be paid $6.5 million this year rather than the team's offer of $4,725,000.

Oliver Perez

On Thursday, Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard became the first player to win in arbitration this year when he was awarded $10 million instead of the team's figure of $7 million.

Perez's win raised the Mets' payroll to $135.2 million for 24 signed players. For luxury tax purposes, which includes average annual values of contracts and about $10 million for benefits, the Mets' payroll is at approximately $146 million -- under the $155 million tax threshold.

Owners finished with a 6-2 advantage over players this year in cases that went to hearings. Los Angeles Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez lost Friday and will make $10 million instead of his request for $12.5 million.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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