Hunter Takes Mariners In Arbitration

AL stolen base champion Brian Hunter won a $700,000 raise to $2.45 million when an arbitration panel ruled Saturday against the Seattle Mariners' $1.75 million offer.

The 28-year-old outfielder won the stolen-base title last year with 44 in 52 attempts the fewest stolen bases for an AL champion since Baltimore's Luis Aparicio won with 40 in 1963.

But Hunter batted just .232 with four homers and 34 RBIs.

Last year, Hunter was a loser in arbitration, when he asked for $2.75 million, up from $562,500, and Detroit offered $1.75 million.

Seattle acquired Hunter from the Tigers on April 28 for a pair of minor leaguers. He began the year in a 13-for-55 slump with no RBIs and no steals in three attempts.

Arbitrators Roger Kaplan, Stephen Goldberg, Elliot Shriftman decided the case, one day after hearing arguments.

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