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Pitching’s $3-Million Club Adds 2 : Baseball: Morris signs with the Twins. Hurst gets contract extension from the Padres.

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From Associated Press

Jack Morris and Bruce Hurst became the 12th and 13th $3-million pitchers Tuesday when Morris signed with the Minnesota Twins and Hurst got a two-year extension from the San Diego Padres.

Morris, the winningest pitcher of the 1980s, rejected a $9.3-million, three-year offer that would have kept him in Detroit and signed a one-year contract with the Twins. The pitcher has options for 1992 and 1993 at $2 million per season.

If Morris pitches 240 innings and makes 34 starts in each of the next two seasons, the contract would be worth $11 million over three years.

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“He brings us 240 quality innings,” Twin Manager Tom Kelly said. “That gives us somebody to look at if things are going bad--’Let Jack pick us up tonight.’ It helps the bullpen. It gives our young pitchers someone to look up to.”

Minnesota spurned Morris after the 1986 season, when owners boycotted free agents. He was a new-look free agent this winter as part of the $280-million collusion settlement.

“It took four years and three free agencies to get him there, but he’s there now,” said Morris’ agent, Richard Moss.

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Ten new-look free agents switched teams, three remained with their clubs for more money and two kept their old contracts. The 13 players with new deals signed for $84.5 million over 33 years, an average of $2.56 million.

Hurst, the most highly sought free agent two winters ago, got an extension through 1993 for $6.4 million. “Bruce Hurst is a very significant player and person in the Padres’ plans for the foreseeable future,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager.

Hurst, who will make $1.75 million in 1991 in the final season of his three-year, $5.25-million contract, gets a $500,000 signing bonus as part of the extension and salaries of $2.75 million in 1992 and 1993.

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San Diego has an option for 1994 at $3 million or must pay a $400,000 buyout.

Three players in arbitration agreed to contracts Tuesday, reducing the remaining players to 79.

Left-hander Norm Charlton, who made $175,000 last year, tripled his salary when he settled with the Reds at $625,000.

Center fielder Daryl Boston and the New York Mets settled at $750,000, a raise of $440,000, and shortstop Luis Rivera agreed with Boston at $565,000, a raise of $255,000.

The first arbitration cases are scheduled for today in Los Angeles. San Diego catcher Benito Santiago and Montreal first-baseman outfielder Mike Aldrete both are scheduled for hearings.

Chicago Cub pitcher Steve Wilson, who is not eligible for arbitration, signed for $230,000, a raise of $85,000.

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