Marlins Bring Fernandez Home to Miami

Right-hander Alex Fernandez, a Cuban American who grew up in Miami and pitched for the University of Miami, is coming home. He signed a five-year, $35-million contract with the Florida Marlins on Monday.

Fernandez, who became a free agent Saturday, rejected a $30-million, five-year offer from the Chicago White Sox, whom he was with the past seven seasons. He never won 20 games or a Cy Young Award for them, but he was durable and consistent, compiling a 57-34 record with a 3.52 earned-run average over the past four seasons.

“The money was overwhelming somewhere else,” said Fernandez, who reportedly had $40-million offers from two clubs. “It wasn’t an easy decision. It all comes down to being at home.”

Fernandez, who made $4.5 million last year, will get $7 million in each of the next five seasons, putting him seventh in average salary and second among pitchers behind Atlanta’s John Smoltz ($7.75 million).

Fernandez becomes the Marlins’ best-paid player, surpassing Gary Sheffield’s $6.1 million for 1997.

“It’s a very exciting, emotional day,” Fernandez said. “It’s a great feeling to know you’ll be sleeping in your own house and be with your wife and kids every day.”

*

The Chicago Cubs, whose offer to ace Jaime Navarro was rejected, signed free-agent left-handed starter Terry Mulholland to a one-year contract, reportedly worth $2 million. Mulholland, 33, was 11-12 with a 4.66 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners last season. He was acquired by the Mariners from Philadelphia on July 31 and went 5-4 with a 4.67 ERA in 12 starts. Navarro, who rejected a three-year offer, was 15-12 with a 3.92 ERA last season and had four complete games in 35 starts.

*

Catcher Benito Santiago has agreed to a two-year, $6.5-million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Santiago made $1.1 million with the Phillies last season, when he hit .264 with 85 RBIs and set career highs with 30 homers and 71 RBIs. He threw out 28 of 92 would-be base-stealers. Santiago, 31, was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1987 when he was with the San Diego Padres.

*

The Colorado Rockies signed free-agent catcher Kirt Manwaring to a two-year contract with an option for a third season.

Motor Racing

John Force, who set numerous records in dominating drag racing this season, has been named motor racing’s Driver of the Year. He is the first driver in the 29 years of the award to come from a series other than NASCAR Winston Cup, CART or Formula One.

Force, winner of an unprecedented 13 of 19 NHRA Funny Car events in 1996, drew eight of the 12 votes from a national panel of motor-sports writers and broadcasters.

Terry Labonte, the Winston Cup champion, received the other four votes.

Golf

The sixth and final round of the $150,000 PGA qualifying tournament at Lompoc was postponed by rain. Tournament spokesman Mark Mitchell said the 110 players will finish the 108-hole tournament at the 7,105-yard La Purisima Golf Club today, weather permitting.

Soccer

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Robin Fraser will miss the U.S. World Cup ’98 qualifying game against Costa Rica at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Saturday after straining his back in training.

Boxing

Hector Quiroz, 21, a junior-welterweight from Montebello, knocked out John West of Nashville, Tenn., in the fourth round of their fight at the Forum to improve to 22-2 with 20 knockouts.

West is 18-4.

In the co-feature, featherweight Juan Manuel Marquez, 23, from Mexico City, knocked out Rodrigo Valenzuela of San Diego in the eighth round.

Valenzuela is 13-2.

Marquez won for the 18th consecutive time after losing the first bout of his pro career. He has stopped 12 of his foes.

Women’s Basketball

Unbeaten Stanford, Connecticut and Louisiana Tech remained 1-2-3 in the Associated Press college poll, but Georgia and Tennessee flipped-flopped positions after the Bulldogs’ 94-93 overtime victory over the Volunteers on Sunday at Knoxville. Georgia is No. 4, Tennessee No. 5.

The Cardinal (8-0) had a perfect 1,000 points in the voting after beating Massachusetts and San Francisco.

Winter Sports

A super-G and downhill race, canceled over the weekend because of heavy snow and fog at Whistler Mountain, Canada, caused some reshuffling by the International Ski Federation.

The downhill race has been scheduled for Dec. 20 at Val Gardena, Italy, the day before a regularly scheduled downhill there. The super-G will be rescheduled later.