Baseball in Last-Minute Scramble to Settle Contracts : Major leagues: Players, teams hustle to beat midnight deadline for salary arbitration and get a belated start on spring training.

Baseball teams and players scrambled to play ball on the financial field Friday as a midnight deadline for salary arbitration approached.

Terry Pendleton, Jim Gott and Bud Black were among those who found themselves headed for new teams as a result of a last-minute scramble to settle contracts. More than two dozen deals were settled, and there were the hints of other major moves involving Randy Johnson, Larry Walker and Bill Swift.

It was as if the long off-season had been compressed into a few short days.

Bob Welch, Mark Lemke and John Burkett were among the latest players affected. David Cone, Marquis Grissom, John Wetteland, Ken Hill and Charlie Hayes were among the top players traded earlier in the week.

The activity came on the day all major leaguers were supposed to start spring training.

Ramon Martinez of the Dodgers reported to camp in Vero Beach, Fla. The team offered him salary arbitration Friday, ensuring that their best pitcher of 1994 will be with the club this year.

Martinez, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 12-7 during the strike-shortened 1994 season. He tied for the National League lead in shutouts, with three.

Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Jose Canseco and Fernando Valenzuela all checked into their respective camps. So did Dave Stewart, Chris Sabo and Mickey Tettleton--those three at a special site in Homestead, Fla., set up for free agents.

“We’re calling ourselves the Homestead Hobos,” infielder Randy Velarde said. “We’re all misfits.”

The American and National leagues also released their schedules, revised after the start of the season was delayed by the strike. Opening day is April 25, when Los Angeles plays at Florida, followed by 13 games the next day. Also, there will be six games the day after the All-Star break.

Pendleton will start the year with the Florida Marlins. The former National League MVP, let loose by the Atlanta Braves, got a $1.5-million, one-year deal as a free agent.

“I bring leadership with me as well as my play in the field,” said Pendleton, 34, who was limited to 77 games last season by a back injury.

Black, 37, signed with Cleveland, a year after going 4-2 with a 4.47 ERA in an injury-interrupted season with San Francisco.

Gott, 35, wound up in Pittsburgh after struggling last year with Los Angeles.

Pat Borders, meanwhile, moved from Toronto to Kansas City. The Most Valuable Player of the 1992 World Series, who made $2.5 million last season with the Blue Jays, got a deal for only $310,000 with the Royals. Welch re-signed with the Oakland Athletics for just $225,000 after making $2.9 million last year.

Burkett, traded by San Francisco to Texas last December, found himself back in limbo after the Rangers declined to offer him a contract. Burkett won 67 games in the last five years with the Giants.

Among the free agents re-signing with their teams were Lemke (Atlanta), Rogers (Texas) and Kirk McCaskill (Chicago White Sox). Also, Jeff Reardon was invited to Montreal’s camp and Mike Jackson worked out for Baltimore.

Friday was the last day for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents, or they lose rights to negotiate until May 15.

It also was the date to offer contracts to salary arbitration-eligible players. Teams told many players to sign now or face release.

The Dodgers came to contract terms with three players--third baseman-pinch hitter Dave Hansen, and rookies Roger Cedeno, an outfielder, and Rick Gorecki, a pitcher.

The Dodgers also were awaiting word on their contract offer to backup catcher Carlos Hernandez, who was eligible for arbitration.