Righetti Decides to Stay With Yankees, Signs for 3 Years, $4.3 Million

NEW YORK — Dave Righetti, who spurned a reported $10-million offer to play in Japan, agreed Wednesday to a 3-year, $4.3-million contract that will keep him with the New York Yankees through the 1990 season.

Righetti becomes the first pitcher to get more than a two-year deal since baseball’s free-agent market tightened in the winter of 1985.

“He got three years because he earned it,” Yankee General Manager Lou Piniella said. “There were numerous reasons. Righetti was the top free-agent pitcher and a part of our organization for his entire career.”

Righetti was 8-6 with a 3.51 earned-run average and 31 saves last season. He set a major league record with 46 saves in 1986.

Righetti will be the sixth-highest paid pitcher in baseball next season, behind Rick Sutcliffe of the Chicago Cubs, Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers, Bruce Sutter of the Atlanta Braves, Mike Witt of the Angels, Dan Quisenberry of the Kansas City Royals and Rich Gossage of the San Diego Padres.