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Watson loses in arbitration

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Reliever Tony Watson has lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in salary arbitration and will make $5.6 million this year rather than $6 million.

Arbitrators Gil Vernon, Jeanne Wood and Steven Wolf made their decision Thursday, a day after hearing arguments.

Watson had a 3.06 ERA in 70 relief appearances for the Pirates last year along with a 2-5 record. The 31-year-old left-hander earned $3.45 million. Watson was an All-Star in 2014, when he was 10-2 with a 1.63 ERA. He had a 1.91 ERA in 2015.

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