Seeking Catalyst, Mets Get Butler : Baseball: Former Dodger center fielder ponders retirement, then agrees to $2-million, one-year contract.

A dozen years ago, a veteran arrived at Shea Stadium and began the New York Mets’ transformation from loser to contender.

Could Brett Butler do now what Keith Hernandez did in the early 1980s?

“A winning team has to have the right kind of veteran leadership, especially a rebuilding club like us,” Mets Manager Dallas Green said Tuesday after Butler agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract. “He will lead by example. He will lead in the clubhouse. He will be a terrific mentor for our young players, like a Ryan Thompson.”

Butler is among the top leadoff hitters in the game. He hit .314 last season with eight homers, 33 RBIs and 27 stolen bases in 417 at-bats. He has a .290 average in 14 seasons, hitting .300 or better four times.

“I expect to win,” he said. “I’m not coming to New York to lose. I’m 37 years old. My days are numbered as a player.”

Butler had been with the Dodgers since 1991. In December, they had offered a $3.5 million deal--matching his 1994 salary--but they withdrew the offer after owners rescinded their salary cap system in February.

“I got to be at a point,” Butler said, “where I was fed up with what was going on. I said, ‘OK, I’ve got a number I’m going to play for, and if there a number less out there, I’m going to retire.’ I’m financially secure.”

Dick Moss, Butler’s agent, contacted the Mets last weekend. New York originally offered $1.5 million, saying that was all its budget would allow. Last week, the Mets signed Pete Harnisch for $9 million over three years and John Franco for $5 million over two.

Green hinted that co-owners Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday approved the final deal with Butler.

“It looked like after we signed Johnny and Pete that it might not be there,” Green said, “but Fred and Nelson stepped up for us.”

Butler said telephone calls from Bret Saberhagen, Franco, Green and Wilpon convinced him of the Mets’ interest. New York offered an option for 1996, but Butler turned that down.

“I want somebody to say, ‘Brett, we want you back.’ I think it’s only fair to the organization to play one year at a time,” he said.

Butler will play center field, with Thompson shifting to right and David Segui playing left.

“He’s the quintessential leadoff hitter,” McIlvaine said. “No one does a better job of starting off a game than he does. Brett is another key part in our drive toward a championship in 1995.”