Raines, Gedman, Guidry Are Back : Free Agents Sign With Old Teams; Alexander, Braves Talk

Tim Raines, the 1986 National League batting champion, became the first of baseball’s premier free agents to return to his former club Friday, and before the day was over catchers Rich Gedman and Bob Boone and pitcher Ron Guidry followed.

Raines rejoined the Montreal Expos, Gedman came to terms with the Boston Red Sox, Boone went back to the Angels and Guidry rejoined the Yankees.

Five top-ranked free agents have been out of work this season after failing to find jobs with other teams. Baseball’s collective bargaining regulations barred any free agent from even negotiating with the clubs they left between Jan. 8 and May 1.

Raines and the Montreal Expos wasted little time once May began. Three hours after midnight, they reached agreement on a three-year contract reportedly worth $5 million, including a $900,000 signing bonus.

No terms were announced on Gedman’s deal with the Red Sox, but before negotiations began, Red Sox General Manager Lou Gorman said the club’s old deal still was on the table--three years for a reported $2.65 million plus incentives.

Raines, who hit .334 last year, reportedly has been keeping himself in shape and could begin play this weekend.

Last year, Raines’ salary was $1.5 million. He also received a $15,000 incentive bonus. In 1985, Raines made $1 million, after losing an arbitration salary case for $1.2 million.

Between the 1986 and 1987 seasons, Raines rejected a $2.2-million, two-year offer from the San Diego Padres, saying he wanted to make at least $1.5 million per year, the same as he earned last year.

Guidry, New York’s long-time pitching ace, signed a two-year contract for the same package he turned down in January, the Yankees announced.

The 36-year-old left-hander and the Yankees were only $50,000 apart on a two-year contract when their talks ended in early January and Guidry became a free agent. Guidry wanted $850,000 a year and the Yankees offered $825,000. Guidry’s deal will reportedly pay him $1,558,242 for two years.

Although Guidry slipped to a 9-12 record and 3.98 earned-run average in 1986, the 11-year veteran’s career mark is 163-80.

Another free agent, pitcher Doyle Alexander, met for about three hours with his club, the Atlanta Braves.

Alexander, 36, went the free agent route when he declined to sign a two-year contract for $950,000 per year. He was unable to reach an agreement with any other major league team.

Alexander originally sought $1.4 per year for two years of a guaranteed contract. The Braves latest offer is believed to be about $650,000 for one year guaranteed, with an option for a second year.

Designated hitter-first baseman Dave Kingman, pitcher Tom Seaver and outfielder Lonnie Smith were among several others who became free agents when their former teams did not offer new contracts. Those players can go anywhere, although clubs may wait to sign them until June 1 when it will not cost them a draft pick.