Righthander Bob Milacki became the first Orioles player to take the club to an arbitration hearing in 12 years yesterday, but the ruling will not be delivered until today.

Milacki and agents Alan and Randy Hendricks presented their case to arbitrator Anthony Sinicropi in an afternoon session at the O'Hare Airport Hyatt Hotel outside Chicago. Club counsel Lon Babby, general manager Roland Hemond and assistant GM Frank Robinson represented the Orioles at the hearing.

Sinicropi is expected to announce today whether Milacki will be granted the $1.18 million salary he requested during the arbitration filing process or the $700,000 figure submitted by the club. The arbitrator has 24 hours after the hearing to select one of the two salary figures, and contract negotiations between the player and the club can continue until he announces his decision.

If Milacki wins, he will become the fourth-highest paid pitcher on the Orioles staff, behind newcomer Storm Davis ($1.9 million), reliever Gregg Olson ($1.85 million average annual salary over a two-year contract) and free-agent acquisition Rick Sutcliffe ($1.2 million plus incentives).

The Orioles have a history of settling their contract disputes short of arbitration.