Marlins Go to White House as a Shell of Title Team

The World Series-champion Florida Marlins, missing 12 of the 25 players who helped them beat Cleveland last October, visited the White House.

“It may not be the precise same Marlin team that played the Indians last year that takes the field on opening day,” President Clinton said of a team changed by owner Wayne Huizenga’s payroll purge. “But if the players keep the same spirit, they’ll be sure to be in the hunt again when the season comes to a close.”

Tony Saunders and Jeff Conine were the only former Marlins who attended the ceremony.

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Baseball owners improved to 3-0 in salary arbitration when a three-man panel ruled for the Arizona Diamondbacks in their case against catcher Jorge Fabregas.

Fabregas, Arizona’s fourth pick in the expansion draft, will get $875,000 this year rather than the $1.5 million he requested.

Fabregas made $275,000 last season, when he hit .258 for the Chicago White Sox with seven home runs and 51 RBIs in 360 at-bats.

Baltimore outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, who had been scheduled for a hearing Tuesday, agreed to a $7-million, three-year contract. Hammonds made $490,000 last season. He had asked for $1.85 million in arbitration and Baltimore had offered $1.3 million. Hammonds, 26, hit .264 last season with 21 homers and 55 RBIs in 397 at-bats.

Milwaukee right-hander Jose Mercedes argued his case, asking for a raise from $153,000 to $1.05 million. The Brewers countered at $615,000.

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Houston Astro pitcher Bob Scanlan broke a bone in his left forearm in a batting cage fall in Kissimmee, Fla., the first major injury of spring training. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. . . . Milwaukee Brewer right-hander Horacio Estrada broke a bone in his non-pitching hand while batting in Phoenix and will be sidelined at least two weeks. . . . New York Met catcher Todd Hundley said he hopes to return from reconstructive elbow surgery at midseason. . . . The Baltimore Orioles summoned Vince Horsman and Matt Snyder to training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., after pitchers Steve Montgomery and Everett Stull were sidelined because of injuries.