ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the final salary arbitration case of the year, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe was awarded a $10.3 million salary from the Washington Nationals, differing from his request of $11.1 million. This outcome leaves the teams with a record of 5-4 in arbitration cases this year.

Arbitrators John Woods, Walt De Treux, and Janice Johnston rendered their verdict just a day after deliberating over the arguments presented.

Last season, Lowe boasted a batting average of .265, hitting 16 home runs and achieving a personal best of 89 runs batted in (RBIs) while playing for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers traded him to the Nationals on December 22 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia.

Having earned $7.5 million last year, Lowe will be eligible for arbitration again next offseason and will enter free agency following the 2026 World Series.

This year’s arbitration outcomes mirrored the low point hit in 2021, with teams winning five cases while players won four—a notable decline from last year’s 9-6 player victory record. Since the inception of the arbitration system in 1974, teams have held a decisive 358-270 edge.

Out of 169 players eligible for arbitration after the November 22 tender deadline, only 17 cases went to hearings following the exchange of salary figures on January 9.

In addition to Lowe’s case, there were several other arbitration decisions. St. Louis outfielder/infielder Brendan Donovan received $2.85 million instead of the $3.3 million he sought. New York Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr. was awarded $2.05 million over his $2.5 million request, while Pittsburgh’s Dennis Santana and Johan Oviedo were granted $1.4 million and $850,000, respectively, instead of their higher requests.

On the winning side of arbitration, Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo received $5.95 million, surpassing his $5.8 million ask. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar was awarded $2.95 million instead of his proposed $2.45 million, while Andre Pallante, also of the Cardinals, received $2.1 million over his request of $1,925,000. The Angels’ Mickey Moniak likewise saw a positive outcome, collecting $2 million, exceeding his request of $1.5 million.