Arbitrators Elizabeth Neumeier, Robert Bailey and Fredric Horowitz were expected to issue a decision during the weekend.
Hill was 1-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 12 starts last year, when he went on the disabled list June 25 because of a sore elbow. He had bone spurs and calcium deposits scraped from his right elbow on Sept. 5 when Dr. James Andrews performed arthroscopic surgery.
Hill earned $402,000 in 2008.
The 27-year-old right-hander missed the 2005 season after elbow-ligament replacement surgery, missed time in 2006 with soreness in his right elbow and was limited to 16 starts in 2007 because of a shoulder injury and a compressed radial nerve in his right forearm.
Still, intrigued by his sinker, the Nationals long have said they consider Hill a potential front-line starter
- if he could stay healthy.
Three other Nationals are among the 21 players still scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 20: third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, outfielder Josh Willingham and left-hander Scott Olsen.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2009/Feb/07/images/ads/current/ja_bch111308.png)