A decision in Reds first baseman Sean Casey's salary arbitration case could be announced as early as today and probably no later than Friday.

        The Reds and Casey confronted each other in a hearing Wednesday before three arbitrators in Phoenix.

        Casey's bid for a one-year, $3 million contract was $400,000 higher than the club's offer, matching reliever Scott Sullivan ($2.1 million bid/$1.7 million offered) for the lowest difference among the six Reds who filed for salary arbitration. But unlike Sullivan, who agreed to a three-year, $6.95 deal Tuesday night, Casey and the team failed to reach a late compromise.

        Casey, 26, earned $400,000 last year while batting .315 with 20 home runs and 85 RBI. Though those numbers fell short of his 1999 totals, he overcame a broken right thumb that forced him to begin the season on the disabled list.

        The Reds also face hearings with relief ace Danny Graves, second baseman Pokey Reese, outfielder Dmitri Young and right-hander Osvaldo Fernandez. If the team were to lose all five of its cases — which is unlikely — its payroll would be $3.675 million more than if it won each case. Cincinnati has been operating with a player payroll believed to be in the $40 million-$42 million range.

        Reds arbitration cases:

Player	2000 salary	Reds offer	Player offer
Sean Casey	$400,000	$2.6 mil	$3 mil
Pokey Reese	$1.95 mil	$2.7 mil	$3.6 mil
Danny Graves	$400,000	$2.1 mil	$3.075 mil
Dmitri Young	$1.95 mil	$3.1 mil	$3.9 mil
Osvaldo Fernandez	$500,000	$600,000	$1.2 mil

Portune drops idea of keeping Cinergy Field Reds, Casey await arbitration result

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