Tanana Gets $1.1 Million; Pay Cut for Gooden

Frank Tanana was a winning pitcher, but Dwight Gooden took a loss Thursday, leaving the baseball arbitration score at Owners 10, Players 5.

Gooden, 15-7 in 1987 after missing 2 months and about 10 starts while undergoing cocaine rehabilitation, lost his arbitration case to the New York Mets and must take a $100,000 pay cut to $1.4 million.

He had sought a $150,000 raise to $1.65 million and turned down a settlement offer of $1.45 million, leaving it up to arbitrator Richard Bloch.

“Now that the case is over I’m looking forward to having a strong 1988 season,” Gooden, 23, said. “Both sides handled the case professionally, and it could have gone either way.”

Tanana (15-10) was awarded $1.1 million by arbitrator Frederick Reel, a $437,500 raise and the sixth-highest salary ever won in arbitration. Detroit had offered $800,000.

Three players in arbitration settled Thursday. Just before his hearing was about to begin, shortstop Steve Jeltz agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for $215,000 plus $25,000 in incentives.

Mark Langston, who led the American League in strikeouts in 1987, accepted the Seattle Mariners’ offer of $820,000 plus $42,000 in performance bonuses.

First baseman Sid Bream came to terms with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $360,000, plus $25,000 in potential bonuses.

Bob Boone of the Angels, Tim Burke of Montreal Expos and Mark Thurmond of Detroit Tigers are scheduled for hearings today, the last three arbitration cases this year.