Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo files for arbitration

Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo was among 133 players who filed Tuesday for salary arbitration. Players who filed are scheduled to exchange salary-arbitration figures with their respective teams on Friday.

Bastardo, 27, earned $505,000 last season. This is the first time he is eligible for salary arbitration. After he went 6-1 with a 2.64 ERA and eight saves in 2011, the lefthander struggled to maintain that form in 2012. He was expected to be one of the setup men for closer Jonathan Papelbon but had problems consistently throwing strikes for most of the first half of the season.

He finished the year with a 2-5 record, one save, and a 4.33 ERA. Hitters, however, still had trouble making solid contact against Bastardo. His overall batting average against was .207, and lefthanders batted just .169 against him.

Salary arbitration hearings are scheduled to take place between Feb. 4 and 20, and the two sides can continue to negotiate until the hearing. If a case goes to a hearing, an arbitration panel must decide between the numbers submitted by each side.

Bastardo is likely to end up with a one-year deal worth around $1 million.

- Bob Brookover