BASEBALL

New Houston owner Drayton McLane, who spent $36.5 million last fall on four-year deals with free-agent pitchers Doug Drabek and Greg Swindell, made another big investment, committing $32.3 million to three-year contracts with third baseman Ken Caminiti, second baseman Craig Biggio and center fielder Steve Finley.

Biggio is guaranteed $11 million, Caminiti is guaranteed $10.9 million and Finley $10.4 million. Each got a $600,000 signing bonus.

Outfielder Larry Walker of Montreal, pitcher John Burkett of San Francisco, catcher Greg Olson of Atlanta, and pitcher Cris Carpenter of the Florida Marlins also agreed to one-year deals Monday, leaving 41 remaining in arbitration.

Walker settled at $3 million, more than triple his $975,000 salary last season. Burkett agreed at $1.55 million, up from $375,000. Olson agreed at $925,000, up from $350,000. And Carpenter, who made $170,000 in 1992, agreed at $725,000.