PHOENIX (AP) — Right-hander Zack Wheeler beat the New York Mets in salary arbitration on Thursday and reliever Justin Grimm lost to the Chicago Cubs, leaving players with a 7-4 record about halfway through this year's hearings.Wheeler gets a raise from $800,000 to $1.9 million instead of New York's $1.5 million offer. Arbitrators John Skonier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte made the decision, one day after hearing arguments.Grimm was given a hike from $1,825,000 to $2.2 million by Mark Burstein, Gary Kendellen and James Darby. He had asked for $2,475,000.A 27-year-old right-hander, Wheeler had Tommy John surgery on March 25, 2016, made one minor league appearance that August and returned to the Mets last spring. He went 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts.Wheeler was sidelined by biceps tendinitis in June, went 0-2 in four starts when he returned while allowing 24 hits and 11 walks in 20 innings, then went on the DL for the rest of the season with what the team said was a stress reaction... [More]

The New York Yankees optioned outfielder Ben Gamel to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday and reassigned several other players to their minor league camp.Reassigned to the minor league camp were right-handers Tyler Cloyd, Mark Montgomery and Vinnie Pestano, left-hander Richard Bleier and infielders Jonathan Diaz and Donovan Solano.

Pestano cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.

As recently as three seasons ago, Pestano was regarded as one of the league's top setup men, but he's fallen on hard times with his velocity tailing off in the years since. He delivered a 5.40 ERA and 1.97 WHIP over 11.2 innings with the Angels this season, and his removal from the 40-man roster may prevent him from reemerging in the big leagues later in the second half.

Pestano was designated for assignment on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

A roster spot was needed following the Angels trading for David Murphy on Tuesday, so the team designated Pestano to open that spot up. The 30-year-old has pitched 20 innings for Triple-A Salt Lake, boasting an 0-3 record and an ERA of 3.60.

Pestano was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Pestano has struggled throughout the season and has been used to record more than one out just once in his last six appearances. He figures to make it back to the major league club before too long, but the right-hander will likely continue to pitch in low-leverage situations.

Pestano tossed a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's win over Oakland.

He's struck out four and issued two unintentional walks over 5.2 innings this season. Pestano appears to be a few chairs away from the ninth-inning role should an injury befall Huston Street at any point this season.

Pestano agreed to a one-year contract with the Angels on Monday.

Pestano will avoid arbitration after signing with the contract. The 29-year-old split time between two teams and two levels last season ultimately ending the season with the Angels as a September call-up. He finished his major league season with a respectable 2.89 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 18.2 innings, also striking out 26 over that period. He could be a candidate to make the team's bullpen with a strong spring training.

Pestano was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports.

In six appearances after joining Salt Lake earlier this month, Pestano gave up two earned runs and fanned 12 over eight innings. He posted a 1.78 ERA and 11.0 K/9 in 32 appearances with the Indians' Triple-A Columbus affiliate before being traded, but the right-hander is no real threat to Joe Smith and Huston Street at the back end of the bullpen.

Pestano was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Pestano spent the last week with the big club yet made one appearance last Sunday, hurling a blank frame with three strikeouts versus one walk. As a corresponding move, Mike Morin (foot) was activated from the disabled list.

Pestano was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Pestano was traded to the Angels on Thursday, and it didn't take long for the team to add him to the bullpen. He struggled at the major league level with the Indians earlier this season, allowing five earned runs over nine innings. The 29-year-old reliever was impressive at the Triple-A level, however, posting a 1.78 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with Columbus.

Pestano was traded to the Angels for Michael Clevinger on Thursday, Joe Reedy of Fox Sports Ohio reports.

Pestano split time between the Indians and Triple-A Columbus this season, posting a 1.78 ERA in the minors and 1.16 WHIP this season. He will provide the Angels with another bullpen option in the their playoff run should they need one, but for now will take his place in Triple-A for the Angels.

Indians optioned RHP Vinnie Pestano to Triple-A Columbus.

He has struggled in his limited time with the Indians this season, posting a 5.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and .333 batting average against over his first nine innings. He'll surely return at some point after the All-Star break.

Indians recalled RHP Vinnie Pestano from Triple-A Columbus.

Pestano was optioned after just three relief appearances earlier this season, but he's righted the ship with a 1.78 ERA and 32/7 K/BB ratio over 25 1/3 Triple-A frames. He'll work in middle relief.

Indians optioned RHP Vinnie Pestano to Triple-A Columbus.

Pestano gets the boot after being knocked around for three runs -- one earned -- on three hits over two-thirds of an inning Tuesday. He holds a 13.50 ERA and 3.38 WHIP over three appearances this season. Pestano simply hasn't been the same guy since the beginning of last season and the Indians are hoping he can figure things out on the farm.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti announced Saturday that Vinnie Pestano has secured a spot on the team's Opening Day roster.

He's expected to work in the seventh inning, as a bridge to Cody Allen and John Axford closing out games. The 29-year-old has pitched well this spring, compiling a 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 5/2 K/BB ratio in six innings of work.

Vinnie Pestano (elbow) will make his Cactus League debut on Monday when the Indians take on the Rangers.

The veteran right-hander threw a session of live batting practice on Friday and was encouraged by the results. He's expected to work in the seventh inning, helping to get the ball to Cody Allen and John Axford at the backend of the Tribe's bullpen.

Vinnie Pestano lost his arbitration hearing against the Indians and was awarded a $975,000 million salary for 2014.

The 28-year-old reliever had requested a figure of $1.45 million from the Tribe. He'll continue to function in a setup capacity in front of the team's new closer, John Axford. His fantasy value will be minimal though unless he can work his way into save chances.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that Vinnie Pestano and the Indians are "currently at (a) standstill" in arbitration talks.

The reliever requested $1.45 million and was offered $975,000 from the Indians when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. Pestano's arbitration hearing is scheduled for Friday, and it sounds like there's a decent chance a hearing will be needed. He is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.

Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said Vinnie Pestano suffered an injury to his right elbow during last year's World Baseball Classic.

"I think some of that WBC injury really trained his arm to do something different than he's done in the past," Callaway said during Saturday's Tribe Fest. It was suspected that the WBC led to many of Pestano's issues on the mound last season, but this is the first time it's been acknowledged by a team official that he sustained an injury during the tournament. It explains why the 28-year-old went from being one of the game's best setup men to posting a 4.08 ERA and being demoted in July. With the injury behind him, Pestano should return to being an effective reliever in 2014.

Vinnie Pestano requested $1.45 million and was offered $975,000 from the Indians when arbitration figures were exchanged on Friday.

Once the heir-apparent to the closer's role in Cleveland, Pestano is coming off a terribly disappointing 2013 season that saw his demotion to Triple-A mid-season. He'll earn a decent raise over the $501,900 that he netted during the 2013 season.