Hill and Nationals are first to go to a hearing in 2009

Oft-injured Washington Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill is the first player to go to a hearing this year. Hill, who made $402,000 in 2008 (a figure just above the minimum major league salary), was seeking $775,000 from the panel. The Nationals offered a modest raise to $500,000.

AP stories listed the arbitration panel as Robert Bailey, Fredric Horowitz, and Elizabeth Neumeier. MLB.com reporter Alden Gonzalez listed the panel as Elizaabeth Neumeier, James Oldham, and Steven Wolf.

Hill posted a 1-5 record in 2008 with a 5.83 ERA. After starting 12 games, Hill was placed on the disabled list on June 25. In September, Dr. James Andrews performed arthroscopic surgery to scrape bone spurs and calcium deposits from the pitcher’s right elbow.

I would not be surprised if the Nationals received the nod from the panel. Hill has just over two years of credited service.

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