First baseman Nathaniel Lowe lost to Washington on Saturday in the final salary arbitration case this year and will get the Nationals’ $10.3 million offer rather than his $11.1 million request, leaving teams with a winning record at 5-4.

Lowe hit .265 with 16 homers and a career-high 89 RBIs last season for the Texas Rangers, who traded him to Washington on Dec. 22 for left-hander Robert Garcia.

The nine decisions matched the fewest since teams went 5-4 in 2021. Players went 9-6 last year.

Teams have a 358-270 advantage since arbitration started in 1974.

EX-PITCHER JENKS HAS CANCER >> Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, is being treated for stomach cancer.

Jenks shared his condition from a Portugal hospital bed in an interview with MLB.com.

The 43-year-old Jenks said he’s planning to recover well enough to return for a second season as manager of the minor league Windy City Thunderbolts in Crestwood, Illinois.

Jenks helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series, saving four games in six appearances during the postseason run.

RAGANS GETS NEW DEAL >> All-Star left-hander Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a $13.25 million, three-year contract.

Ragans gets a $250,000 signing bonus and salaries of $1 million this year, $4.5 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027.

Ragans, 27, was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts last year with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 186 1/3 innings. He led AL qualified pitchers with an average of 10.77 strikeouts per nine innings and finished fourth in Cy Young voting.

He is 18-17 with a 3.46 ERA is 53 starts and 17 relief appearances over four seasons, including 16-11 with a 3.00 ERA in 44 starts since Kansas City acquired him from Texas on June 30, 2023, for reliever Aroldis Chapman.