Three Pitchers Balk at Mets’ Offers

The New York Mets, expected to be one of the strongest teams in the National League this year, are having trouble signing three of the key members of their pitching staff.

General Manager Frank Cashen admitted Thursday that relief pitchers Jesse Orosco and Doug Sisk had filed for arbitration and that the club was still far apart in its contract negotiations with NL Rookie of the Year Dwight Gooden.

Orosco and Sisk posted the NL’s best 1-2 relief punch last season, even though Sisk missed much of the last six weeks of the season with an injured shoulder. Orosco posted a 10-6 record with 31 saves while Sisk had 15 saves in 50 games.

While the contract disputes with Orosco and Sisk are expected to be ironed out before either player actually takes his case before an arbitrator, the Gooden situation is more delicate.

Jim Neader, Gooden’s agent, is asking $575,000 for the 1985 season for his client, who received the minimum of $40,000 last year while compiling a 17-9 record and a major league rookie record of 276 strikeouts.

The Mets are offering Gooden a one-year contract for less than $250,000 and Neader insists his client will not report to spring training unless he has a signed contract. As a second year player, Gooden is not eligible for arbitration.

“There are reports that the young man might miss spring training. That would be a major mistake, but it’s a decision they have to make,” said Cashen, who joined with members of the Mets’ organization and news media at a luncheon Thursday to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the purchase of the Mets by book publisher Nelson Doubleday.

Despite the contract disputes, the mood at the luncheon was one of overall optimism.

The Mets finished second in the NL East last year, six games behind the Chicago Cubs, and the off-season acquisition of slugging catcher Gary Carter and promising third baseman Howard Johnson has improved the team’s offense.

“We are in a position to contend from opening day until the end of the season,” said Cashen.

Manager Davey Johnson agreed, saying: “There are three (roster) spots open this year, whereas last spring there maybe was 10. We need to score more runs. We need to hold the opposition to less, but we can compete with anybody.”