Arbitrator Rules Against Dawson

Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs lost his arbitration case Sunday when an arbitrator awarded him $1,850,000 instead of his request for a record $2 million.

Arbitrator Stephen Goldberg took four hours of testimony Friday from Dawson, his agent, Dick Moss, and Cub vice president Don Grenesko.

Dawson is the eighth player to lose in 10 arbitration decisions this winter.

“We’re glad the process is over,” Grenesko said. “The most important thing is that Andre Dawson will play right field for us in 1988. We are glad this is behind us.”

Dawson, who batted .287 last season, led the National League in home runs with 49 and runs batted in with 137. He was the NL’s most valuable player in 1987.

“I don’t think we could have presented a case any better than we did,” Dawson said in a telephone interview from Miami. “I respect the arbitrator’s ruling.”

Dawson, 33, was seeking to top the $1,975,000 won in arbitration last year by Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees.