$5.4 Million Is Sought by Tigers’ Fielder

Led by Cecil Fielder’s bid for a 1992 salary of $5.4 million, 12 players submitted arbitration figures Friday in excess of Doug Drabek’s 1991 record award of $3.35 million. Drabek was one of the 12.

In related developments:

--Dick Schofield, one of six eligible Angels, averted arbitration when he agreed to a 1992 salary of $1.5 million. That represented a $100,000 raise for the shortstop who batted .225 last year. He had failed to act on a three-year, $6-million offer from the Angels that was subsequently withdrawn.

He might also be replaced as a 1992 starter by Gary DiSarcina.

Of rumors that Schofield is on the trade block, his agent, Dan Grigsby, said: “Dick would prefer to stay, but he has told the Angels that he doesn’t want to sit and would be receptive to a trade if he isn’t in their plans.”

--Left hander Jim Abbott, 18-11 in his third major league season, filed for a $1,752,500 raise to $2.1 million. The Angels countered at $1.6 million, and Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said the club still hopes to discuss a multi-year contract with Abbott, even if an arbitration hearing is necessary to resolve his 1992 terms. A wider disparity separates the Angels and Mark Eichhorn, who had a 1.98 earned-run average in 70 appearances as Bryan Harvey’s setup man. Eichhorn is seeking a $1.725-million raise to $2.35 million. The Angels countered at $1.35 million.

--The Dodgers, who had 11 players eligible for arbitration, came to terms with three on Thursday, two of them joining the million-dollar club, according to figures obtained Friday. John Candelaria agreed at $1.25 million, Todd Benzinger at $1.15 million and Lenny Harris at $840,000.

The club has 15 players at $1 million or more and probably will have 17, depending on the raise Ramon Martinez receives and resolution of negotiations with Tim Crews. Martinez is not eligible for arbitration. Crews submitted an arbitration figure of $1.45 million, compared to the club’s $950,000.

--In a filing that might hasten the Dodgers’ attempts to trade him, Kal Daniels, who made $2.05 million while batting .249 with 17 homers and 73 runs batted in, is seeking a $1.475-million raise to $3.5 million, compared to the club’s offer of a $225,000 raise to $2.25 million.

A total of 137 players exchanged arbitration figures with their clubs, among them eight who were offered cuts. Among those were Dodger third baseman Jeff Hamilton--who filed at $545,000, compared to the Dodgers attempt to cut him from $491,555 to $450,000--and Oakland Athletic first baseman Mark McGwire. McGwire, after batting .201 last year, took the unusual step of filing for $25,000 less than the $2.875 million he made in 1991, an attempt to avoid a larger cut by the A’s, who filed at $425,000 below his ’91 salary.

Hearings will be scheduled for the first three weeks in February, with an arbitrator choosing either the club’s figure or the player’s. The club and player can continue negotiating until the hearing begins. Last year, 153 players filed, but only 16 went to hearings.

Nineteen of those who filed Friday are seeking $3 million or more, headed by the 12 attempting to break Drabek’s record, among them Daniels. The 11 others: Fielder, $5.4 million, compared to the Detroit Tigers’ offer of $3.2 million; Barry Bonds, $5 million, compared to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ offer of $4 million; Ruben Sierra, $5 million, compared to the Texas Rangers’ offer of $3.8 million; Drabek, $4.9 million, compared to the Pirates’ offer of $3.685 million; Greg Maddux, $4.4 million, compared to the Chicago Cubs’ offer of $3.65 million; David Cone, $4.25 million, compared to the New York Mets’ offer of $3 million; Barry Larkin, $4.2 million, compared to the Cincinnati Reds’ offer of $3 million; John Smiley, $4.1 million, compared to the Pirates’ offer of $2.7 million; Mike Moore, $3.9 million, compared to the A’s offer of $3.1 million; Rafael Palmeiro, $3.8 million, compared to the Rangers’ offer of $2.35 million; and Greg Swindell, $3.675 million, compared to the Reds’ offer of $2.5 million.

Bonds, Sierra, Drabek and Maddux will break the arbitration-award record even if they lose their hearings.

If Fielder, who has hit 95 homers and driven in 265 runs while being paid a total of $3 million in the last two years, gets his $5.4 million, he will be second on the 1992 salary ladder to Bobby Bonilla, who will be paid $5.5 million by the Mets, excluding a $1.5 million signing bonus.

In addition to Schofield, 13 other players eligible for arbitration signed Friday, among them Ron Darling, who agreed to a $2.1 million contract with the A’s.

Arbitration Numbers

DODGERS

Player 1991 salary 1992 Club Filing 1992 Player Filing Tim Crews $670,000 $950,000 $1.45 million Kal Daniels $2.025 million $2.25 million $3.5 million Jim Gott $1.725 million $1.85 million $2.4 million Jeff Hamilton $443,934 $450,000 $545,000 Jay Howell $1.05 million $2.4 million $2.75 million Stan Javier $650,000 $675,000 $825,000 Juan Samuel $1.575 million $1.9 million $2.7 million Mike Sharperson $307,500 $500,000 $675,000

ANGELS

Player 1991 salary 1992 Club Filing 1992 Player Filing Jim Abbott $312,500 $1.6 million $2.1 million Shawn Abner $180,000 $250,000 $325,000 Junior Felix $310,000 $450,000 $690,000 Mark Eichhorn $625,000 $1.35 million $2.35 million Luis Polonia $770,000 $1.65 million $2.45 million