BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Nixon’s Attempt to Reduce Time Is Turned Down

Otis Nixon’s attempt to shorten his drug suspension from 60 days to time served was turned down Friday by George Nicolau, baseball’s permanent arbitrator.

Atlanta’s free-agent outfielder was suspended by Commissioner Fay Vincent on Sept. 16 after testing positive for cocaine. He missed the final 21 days of the regular season, the NL playoffs and the World Series. Nicolau’s ruling means Nixon also will miss the first 18 days of the 1992 season.

Nine players were offered salary arbitration, leaving 66 free agents facing a midnight tonight deadline to re-sign with their teams.

Meanwhile, Carney Lansford returned to Oakland, agreeing to a one-year, $600,000 contract. He can raise his salary to $1.3 million through performances bonuses in the new deal.

Offered arbitration were Juan Samuel and Jay Howell of the Dodgers; Danny Tartabull, Jim Eisenreich and Kurt Stillwell of Kansas City; Danny Cox and Rick Schu of Philadelphia; Mike Gallego of Oakland, and Rafael Ramirez of Houston.

The Cleveland Indians traded reliever Jesse Orosco to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named. Orosco, 2-0 last season with a 3.74 earned-run average, pitched for the Dodgers in 1988.