BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Hernandez Could Have Surgery Soon

Keith Hernandez wants to get a second opinion before committing to a back operation that has been recommended by the Cleveland Indians’ orthopedist.

Hernandez, 37, was limited to 43 games last year as a persistent calf injury sidelined him for much of the season. It was the first year of his two-year, $3.5-million contract with the Indians.

The club’s orthopedist, Louis Keppler, reviewed magnetic resonance imaging scans taken of Hernandez last month at the Cleveland Clinic and concluded that Hernandez is suffering from a herniated disk in the lower back. The condition causes pain that travels down his right leg. Keppler recommended surgery.

“We are entertaining the possibility of Keith requiring an operation,” Keppler said. “And sooner rather than later, maybe in a couple of weeks. Keith wants to get a second opinion Monday or Tuesday. Then he’ll get back to us.

“Under the best potential outcome, the earliest he could come back would be sometime in June. Ron Kittle had a similar injury and he’s back at it.”

Ken Griffey Jr., who hit 22 homers last year and had a .300 batting average, agreed Thursday with the Seattle Mariners on a two-year contract worth $2,535,000. “Everyone knows what he means to our club and now he will be paid accordingly for the next two years,” General Manager Woody Woodward said. . . . Rob Dibble has renewed his threat to walk out of training camp unless the Cincinnati Reds give in to his contract demands. Dibble, 26, says he has asked for $600,000 this season, which would triple his 1990 salary of $200,000. He said the club has offered a base salary of $500,000 with incentives--an offer he rejected. . . . Bobby Bonilla said has no immediate plans to reopen negotiations with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a long-term contract. “We’re not talking,” Bonilla said. Bonilla rejected a four-year, $16-million offer--and a one-year deal worth $3.1 million--before losing in arbitration for the second year in a row. He will make $2.4 million after requesting $3,475,000. . . . Don Mattingly was picked to be the 10th captain in the history of the New York Yankees. Previous Yankee captains were Hal Chase, Roger Peckinpaugh, Babe Ruth, Everett Scott, Lou Gehrig, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph and Ron Guidry.