Hershiser Says He and Dodgers Are at Impasse Over Lockout Language

Orel Hershiser, the Dodgers’ Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, said Friday that his contract talks are at an impasse over lockout language.

Teammates Kirk Gibson and Mike Marshall both have clauses in their contracts obligating the team to pay them in the event of an owners’ lockout in 1990. However, the Dodgers don’t want to extend the same provision to Hershiser, agent Robert Fraley said.

Fraley said the Dodgers have made Hershiser two offers, the best a three-year deal worth $6.25 million. Dodger executive vice president Fred Claire said Friday that that is more than $2 million less than what Hershiser is seeking.

Fraley said the impasse is over lockout language, but the financial terms of the deal are also unacceptable.

Hershiser, who made $1.1 million in 1988 and could become a free agent after this season, is scheduled for a Feb. 16 arbitration hearing. He is seeking $2.425 million for one year, which would be a record arbitration award. The Dodgers are offering $2 million.

Claire said: “We signed the other players to their contracts last season before we determined our lockout language position. What we offered Orel is not unreasonable. It is the largest guaranteed 3-year contract ever offered in the history of the Dodgers.”