Van Slyke Signs With Pirates for $5.5 Million

All-Star outfielder Andy Van Slyke, dropping his demand to be paid if there is an owners’ lockout in 1990, signed a three-year, $5.5-million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday.

By signing a contract similar to one signed recently by New York Mets outfielder Kevin McReynolds, Van Slyke avoided a Monday arbitration hearing.

Van Slyke, who hit .288 with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in last season, said there was a “better than 50-50 chance” he would sign with another team in 1990 if he went to arbitration. “It has always been my first priority to remain a Pirate for the next three years and I am glad that has happened.”

Van Slyke’s contract includes a $600,000 signing bonus and salaries of $1.95 million in 1989 and 1991 and $1 million in 1990. He could earn another $270,000 a eason in incentive bonuses.

Elsewhere, Cleveland’s Joe Carter and Tim Teufel of the New York Mets won their salary arbitration cases, giving the players a 7-5 edge, the first time they’ve finished ahead of owners since 1981. Owners still lead, 154-125, in the 14-year history of arbitration.

Carter was awarded $1.63 million by arbitrator Frederick Reel, rather than the $1.15 million offered by the Indians. Teufel was given $590,000 by arbitrator Richard Bloch, rather than the $470,000 the Mets offered.

An Associated Press study disclosed that as a result of arbitration, the average salary will increase by about $50,000 a player this year to $485,000.