On or Off Field, Hershiser Is Holding All the Aces

When last seen on the diamond at Dodger Stadium, Orel Hershiser was unbeatable.

When he returned Wednesday afternoon for the Dodgers’ first voluntary winter workout, less than 3 months after they won the World Series, Hershiser was still in a can’t-lose position, this time at the bargaining table.

The Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, who was paid $1.1 million by the Dodgers last season, is negotiating a new contract with the team. His attorney, Robert Fraley, met with Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire for the second straight day Wednesday.

A long-term contract is Hershiser’s goal, and after the season he had in 1988--a 23-8 record, a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings, the most-valuable-player award in both the National League playoffs and the World Series--the 30-year-old right-hander would appear to be in a position to test the major league owners’ recent reluctance to award contracts longer than 3 years.

The last pitcher to receive a 3-year deal from the Dodgers was Fernando Valenzuela in 1986, and Valenzuela missed virtually the last 2 months of the ’88 season with a bad shoulder. Valenzuela took part in Wednesday’s workout but is not expected to throw before the middle of next week.

If Hershiser doesn’t get the long-term deal he’s seeking, he can file for arbitration, a decision he has to make by Monday.

After filing, there is a 3-day period in which a player and his team exchange salary figures. An impartial arbitrator then chooses one of the two figures after a hearing, usually in mid-February. Contract talks can continue between the parties, however, until the hearing date.

Hershiser offered little comment on negotiations.

“I just want to stay out of it,” he said. “There’s nothing to say. . . . I think everything will go fine. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It’s business.”

Hershiser, asked if he intended to become baseball’s highest-paid pitcher in 1989, professed ignorance. “How much would that be?” he said with a straight face. “I haven’t looked at any numbers yet.”

The highest-paid pitcher last season was Valenzuela, who received $2.05 million. It is believed that, should he go to arbitration, Hershiser will seek a figure in that vicinity.

Tuesday night, Hershiser attended the Kings’ game as a guest of Bruce McNall, owner of the hockey team. Asked if he were interested in a deal similar to the one McNall gave Wayne Gretzky--a reported $20-million, 8-year package--Hershiser laughed.

“I think 8-year deals are out of the picture,” he said.

Notes

Orel Hershiser was one of six Dodger veterans who showed up for Wednesday’s workout. The others were outfielder Mike Marshall, catchers Rick Dempsey and Mike Scioscia, and pitchers Fernando Valenzuela and Tim Leary. . . . Pat Screnar, the team’s physical therapist, gave an optimistic status report on Valenzuela, who had pitched 255 consecutive starts before going on the disabled list July 29. Screnar said Valenzuela had “religiously” followed the exercise program prescribed to strengthen the muscles in his left shoulder. The goal, Screnar said, is for Valenzuela to be throwing off the mound by the start of spring training Feb. 16 in Vero Beach, Fla. “I think I can come back and work like years ago,” Valenzuela said. “If I continue to work, I think I can help the team a little bit.” . . . Scioscia is fully recovered from the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent after the World Series, Screnar said. . . . Screnar said pitcher John Tudor, who underwent “Tommy John” surgery to reconstruct his elbow, will come here next week for another checkup. Tudor is not projected to return until July, but Screnar said he would not “rule out” the possibility that Tudor may be able to do some throwing in Vero Beach. . . . Outfielder Kirk Gibson, who finished the season with a sprained ligament in his right knee and a pulled left hamstring, is undergoing therapy in his Michigan home and should be 100% by the start of spring training, Screnar said.