Hershiser Seeks $1-Million Pact From Arbitrator

The Dodgers, who already have committed nearly $9.3 million to signing Fernando Valenzuela and Mike Scioscia to multiyear contracts within the last three days, are scheduled to go to arbitration one last time today with another potential millionaire, pitcher Orel Hershiser.

Although the Dodgers avoided arbitration altogether with Valenzuela, signing him to a three-year, $5.5-million deal after putting off their hearing last Saturday, they went through a hearing with Scioscia Monday before signing him to a four-year, $3.775-million contract, thereby negating the need for a ruling by arbitrator Richard Kaegel.

Scioscia’s contract, which is guaranteed, calls for him to be paid $800,000 this season, $875,000 in 1987, and $1 million in 1988, with an additional option year of $1.1 million in 1989.

The Dodger catcher, who was paid $435,000 after winning his arbitration case last winter, had gone into Tuesday’s hearing seeking $825,000. The Dodgers had offered $650,000.

Both Scioscia and Valenzuela had been eligible to become free agents, a factor that undoubtedly influenced the Dodgers to sign them to multiyear contracts.

Hershiser, of course, is not, having just completed his second full season in the majors. Six years of service is required before a player is eligible for free agency.

According to Hershiser’s agent, Orlando-based attorney Robert Fraley, there have been no discussions at all about a multiyear deal for his client, who is seeking $1 million after leading the Dodger staff in wins with 19 and in earned-run average with 2.03 while losing only three games. The Dodgers made a counter-offer of $600,000.

“I’m confident the number we have is a legitimate number,” said Hershiser, who last spring contemplated walking out of training camp before finally signing for $212,000.

Fraley said he has had just one five-minute phone conversation with Dodger attorney Bob Walker since the arbitration figures were submitted. He said he didn’t expect the case to be settled without a hearing.

Fraley succeeded in delaying the date of Hershiser’s hearing, which coincidentally or not resulted in two significant cases involving second-year pitchers being decided before Hershiser’s. Bret Saberhagen was awarded $925,000 from the Kansas City Royals by an arbitrator, and the New York Mets signed Dwight Gooden to a $1.32-million contract four days before his scheduled hearing.

“That certainly didn’t hurt us,” Fraley said. “You never know the basis of the ruling, and we have a whole different set of facts, but the cases are comparable. We feel good going in.”

Of the seven Dodgers who filed for arbitration this winter, so far only one case has actually been decided by an arbitrator. First baseman Greg Brock, who had been seeking $440,000, lost his case and will be paid $325,000.

There had been some question whether Scioscia, as the Dodger player representative, would sign a contract that included a drug-testing clause, which the Dodgers require in all multiyear contracts. He did so, according to Philadelphia attorney Richie Phillips, because he was given the go-ahead by the Major League Players Assn.

“While Mike does not find a drug-testing clause personally offensive, he always felt it was a matter between the players’ association and the (owners’) Player Relations Committee,” Phillips said.

“With a grievance pending, the union did not object to his signing. It will depend on the outcome of the grievance. If it’s valid, it’s valid. If it’s not, it’s not.”