MONTREAL, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The Montreal Expos on Friday avoided arbitration Friday with lefthanded reliever Joey Eischen, signing him to a contract for the 2003 season with a club option for 2004.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Eischen asked for $875,000 and the Expos offered $725,000.
Eischen posted a 6-1 record and 1.34 ERA in 59 appearances out of the bullpen for the Expos last season after being promoted from Class AAA Ottawa on May 2. He also recorded his first two career saves and had the second-lowest ERA among major league relievers behind Atlanta's Chris Hammond (0.95).
The Expos have 18 players under contract for the 2003 campaign. The only remaining players eligible for arbitration are pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Javier Vazquez.
