Phillies settle with Jeanmar Gomez, will negotiate with Cesar Hernandez

The Phillies settled at a $4.2 million salary for reliever Jeanmar Gomez and will continue to negotiate with second baseman Cesar Hernandez after Friday's deadline to exchange salary figures for arbitration-eligible players passed.

Hernandez and the Phillies must swap salary numbers, and if the two sides cannot come to an agreement, an arbitrator will hear the case in February. The Phillies have not been to an arbitration hearing since 2008 with Ryan Howard, so they probably will resolve Hernandez's salary before that stage.

Gomez, who turns 29 in February, was a revelation for the first three months of last season. He emerged as an improbable closer, saving 37 of his 43 opportunities in his first chance at the role, but faded in the season's final weeks. Gomez's ERA was 2.53 on Aug. 13. It finished at 4.85.

The Phillies this winter prioritized an upgrade to the bullpen, and that resulted in $14 million spent on veterans Joaquin Benoit and Pat Neshek. Manager Pete Mackanin said he envisions a competition this spring to determine his 2017 closer, which means Gomez could return to a middle-relief role with Hector Neris or Benoit as the ninth-inning man.

Gomez made $1.4 million in 2016. The arbitration process typically rewards traditional counting statistics like saves.

Hernandez, 26, is eligible for arbitration for the first time. He qualified for Super Two status, which entitles him to four years of salary arbitration and not the standard three. He made $525,000 last season.