Samuel, Howell Agree to Arbitration for ’92 : Dodgers: Decision by second baseman comes as a surprise for the second year in a row.

Two months after Dodger management gave him the cold shoulder, second baseman Juan Samuel surprised some of his teammates Thursday when he returned for 1992 by accepting the club’s arbitration offer.

Jay Howell, as expected, also accepted, giving the Dodgers two familiar faces amid much youth and uncertainty.

“Well, it’s nice to be able to have some of our team back together,” outfielder Brett Butler said with a laugh.

Although Samuel will supply stability to the middle of a young infield, he also may bring some of the resentment that goes with feeling not quite wanted.

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, announced in October that he would not negotiate with free agent Samuel. But if the Dodgers had not offered him arbitration two weeks ago, they would have been out two compensatory draft picks if Samuel had signed elsewhere.

They offered arbitration to Howell at the same time. In that case, however, they were negotiating a one-year deal with Howell.

“After the way Juan felt he has been treated by the Dodgers, I can’t believe he is coming back,” one veteran said. “There can only one reason for it--he didn’t have any other offers.”

Samuel had one multiyear offer, according to agent Jim Turner, but the team wanted Samuel to play the outfield.

“The man is a second baseman,” Turner said. “And Fred Claire has told me, if Juan Samuel accepts arbitration, he is the second baseman.”

Good thing Turner didn’t ask Claire the identity of the third baseman. With Lenny Harris and Mike Sharperson forced from second base with Samuel’s decision, they will compete at third base in the spring with Dave Hansen and Jeff Hamilton.

“All things considered, this is the best opportunity for Juan . . .,” Claire said. “And (Turner) felt that a lot of the emotions that Juan went through last year, he has not gone through this year.”

In a similar scenario last winter, Samuel was ignored by the Dodgers when he became a free agent, then surprised them when he accepted their arbitration offer.

But Samuel showed up angry in spring training, and was not happy throughout the season.

He had a successful first half, hitting .313 and being named to the National League All-Star team. But he batted .224 in the second half of the season, despite leading the Dodgers with a .317 average during the final two weeks of the championship race.

He finished with a .271 average, 12 home runs and 58 runs batted in. He had a team-high 133 strikeouts, his most since 1988.

“Juan helps us a great deal, he adds a lot of offensive capability . . . he helps our running game,” Claire said, referring to Samuel’s 23 stolen bases, second on the team.

As for Howell, there was no question that the Dodgers wanted him, even though he pitched only three innings in the final month because of elbow problems. A save on the final day of the season, his team-leading 16th, proved to him and the Dodgers that his elbow was fine.

“The Dodgers know I’m healthy,” Howell said from his Atlanta-area home. “They wouldn’t have offered arbitration if I wasn’t. I’m glad I’m coming back, and I feel I have something to prove, no matter where I played.”

Claire said: “A healthy Jay Howell can be a dominating closer.”

Howell, who is 34 saves short of Jim Brewer’s Dodger record of 125, also is valued by the Dodgers as a leader of a bullpen that now has seven pitchers for six spots.

Although a reliever and a third baseman probably need to be moved, Claire said there would probably be resolutions in both areas during spring training. That means the trading of Kal Daniels is probably the only major Dodger move left this winter.