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 ERA over the past four seasons.

His agent, Scott Boras, said 16 teams expressed interest in Fernandez, and two clubs were willing to pay more than $40 million for five years.

“The money was overwhelming somewhere else,” Fernandez said. “It wasn’t an easy decision. It all comes down to being at home.

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

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.

*

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, 71 RBIs 49 walks. 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. Manwaring was traded by the San Francisco Giants to Houston at mid-season last year. Manwaring, who committed only three errors in 86 games last season, has a career batting average of .245.

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.

Women’s Basketball

Unbeaten Stanford, Connecticut and Louisiana Tech remained 1-2-3 in the Associated Press women’s college basketball poll, but Georgia and Tennessee flipped-flopped positions after the Lady Bulldogs’ 94-93 overtime victory over the Lady Volunteers Sunday at Knoxville. Georgia is now 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.

Names in the News

Johnny Olszewski, 65, of Long Beach, a star running back for the University of California from 1950-52 who played 10 years of as a professional, died of respiratory failure at a rest home on Sunday.

Olszewski, the fourth-leading rusher in Cal history with 2,504 yards, was a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Cardinals in 1953. He also played for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions of the NFL and one year (1962) with the Denver Broncos of the old American Football League. He played at St. Anthony High before going to Cal.