No Comment on Johnson Return

Davey Johnson refuses to be pinned down on whether he will return to manage the Baltimore Orioles in 1997.

Johnson’s three-year, $2.25-million contract with the team runs through the 1998 season. But Johnson declined to tell the Washington Post that he would definitely return next season.

“I’m not going to comment at this point,” he said from his home in Winter Park, Fla. “I’m under contract.”

Meanwhile, the Orioles signed Pittsburgh Pirate pitching coach Ray Miller to a two-year contract with an option for a third year. Miller, 51, replaces Pat Dobson, who was fired Tuesday.

Miller was the Orioles’ pitching coach between 1978 and 1985, coaching Mike Flanagan and Steve Stone to Cy Young awards in 1979 and 1980.

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The Pirates, who spent much of August dealing experienced players and cutting payroll, re-signed outfielder Al Martin to a two-year extension through the 1999 season. Martin batted career-high .300 with 18 homers and 72 RBIs. . . . The Chicago White Sox named former Angel manager Doug Rader as their third base coach. Rader, who managed the Angels from 1989-91, was most recently the hitting instructor for the Florida Marlins. . . . Montreal pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, who oversaw one of the best staffs in baseball, will not return next season. Kerrigan, 42, is seeking a job closer to his home in Philadelphia.