The Associated Press

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne lost his salary arbitration case Thursday and will receive $5 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of $8 million.

Gagne was 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA and 55 saves in as many chances last season and made $550,000.

Arbitrators Stephen Goldberg, Dan Brent and Elliott Shriftman heard the case Wednesday in Phoenix.

Gagne, 28, enters the season with a major-league record 63 consecutive saves dating to Aug. 28, 2002. He had 52 saves in 56 chances that season, his first as a closer.

His agent, Scott Boras, said the Dodgers' argued that he shouldn't be paid vastly more in his first year of arbitration eligibility than Mariano Rivera, who beat the New York Yankees in 1999 and earned $4.25 million.

"The club's argument was that he should be tied to Mariano Rivera as a three-plus player, and the service-time argument apparently won the day," Boras said.

New Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta wouldn't say whether the team would consider a multi-year contract for Gagne, who can become a free agent after the 2006 season.

On the whole, after a one-year slowdown, salaries for baseball players in arbitration resumed their relentless climb.

The 65 players in arbitration will average a record $3.26 million this season, according to a study of their contract terms by The Associated Press. That's up from the $2.76 million set last year.

Led by St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, who agreed Wednesday to a $100 million, seven-year deal that is expected to be announced today, players averaged a 126 percent increase, well above the 92 percent rise last year, which was the lowest since 1996.

RED SOX: Pedro Martinez may miss Boston's first three days of spring training because of a family medical issue.

The Red Sox ace received permission from the club to report after the team's first official workout for pitchers and catchers on Saturday.

Martinez "has a very legitimate serious family issue that's going to be fine but does require his attention," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said Thursday.

YANKEES: In just four days, Alex Rodriguez has nearly paid for himself this year, at least as far as the New York Yankees are concerned.

New York has sold nearly 104,000 tickets worth a total of $2 million since Monday, when it acquired the American League MVP from the Texas Rangers.

The sales are double the amount for the same period last year, the team said Thursday.

PHILLIES: Philadelphia sold more than 70,000 tickets Thursday, the first day of individual-game ticket sales for the new ballpark.

Last year, when the Phillies were playing in the old Veterans Stadium, the team sold about 48,000 tickets on the first day. Ten games at the new Citizens Bank Park are already sold out.

The sale did not include opening day, which is available on an individual-game basis only in a lottery.

EXPOS: Frank Robinson will return as manager of Montreal this season, even though he hasn't signed a new deal yet.

"He has verbally agreed to a contract," general manager Omar Minaya said Thursday. "Frank will definitely be the manager. ... It was never a question."

PIRATES: First baseman Randall Simon returned to Pittsburgh Pirates, agreeing to a one-year contract that includes a club option for 2005.

PADRES: Cox Communications will broadcast 104 San Diego games in high definition television, which the company says will be more games than any other media outlet or pro sports team offers in the format.