BASEBALL NOTES

Notes

Dwight Gooden’s $2-million option was exercised by the New York Yankees. Gooden was 11-7 with a 5.01 earned-run average last season, including a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners on May 14. If the Yankees had not exercised the option, they would have had to pay a $300,000 buyout. . . . Outfielder Roberto Kelly agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. That probably means Minnesota will not shop for an expensive, power-hitting right fielder to replace Kirby Puckett and will focus instead on improving its pitching and trying to attract free-agent catcher Terry Steinbach, a Minnesota native. . . . Catcher Darrin Fletcher’s $1.35-million option for 1997 was exercised by the Montreal Expos, who must now decide whether to keep Fletcher, 30, and his left-handed power as insurance for newly acquired catcher Chris Widger or trade him to cut their payroll. . . . Outfielder Jim Eisenreich, pitchers Mike Henneman, Mike Maddux, and Jamie Navarro and catcher Dave Valle filed for free agency, raising the total to 88.

Baltimore Oriole outfielder B.J. Surhoff underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be ready to play by spring training, the team said. . . . Pat Hentgen was tagged for five runs in the first inning, and the Japanese all-stars opened an eight-game goodwill series by beating the U.S. major leaguers, 6-5, in Japan. Brady Anderson homered for the major leaguers, who are back in Japan after a four-year absence.