John Lannan loses arbitration hearing against Nationals, will make $5 million in 2012 - MLB

We have the results of the first arbitration hearing of the offseason. According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, left-hander John Lannan lost his hearing against the Nationals and will earn a $5 million salary this season.

Lannan, 27, requested a $5.7 million salary when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. Both sides stated their respective cases yesterday, but the three-person panel of arbitrators ultimately ruled in the favor of the team.

While Lannan lost the hearing, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times notes that he is now the highest-paid pitcher on the Nationals.

Lannan posted career-bests with a 3.70 ERA and 10 wins across 33 starts last season, despite an underwhelming 106/76 K/BB ratio over 184 2/3 innings. He remains under team control through 2013.

Minnesota’s Josh Donaldson managed to get ejected while hitting a home run.

Donaldson barked at plate umpire Dan Bellino for the second time in the sixth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

With the score 2-2, Bellino called a strike when the 2015 AL MVP checked his swing on a 2-0 pitch from Reynaldo Lopez.

Manager Rocco Baldelli came out to speak with Bellino, and Donaldson homered down the left-field line on the next offering. After rounding the bases, Donaldson kicked dirt at home plate as he crossed it.

Bellino ejected him immediately, and Donaldson, realizing he had missed home plate, returned to the plate to touch it and then argued as he kicked more dirt on it.

Donaldson also had argued with Bellino on a 1-1 breaking ball in the first inning that appeared to be high but was called a strike, leading to a strikeout.

“We need Josh on the field, out there playing, and at third base,” Baldelli said. “That’s when we’re at our best. And so that’s really the end of it. I think we can move past it at his point, and go from here.”