BASEBALL NOTES

The Dodgers acquired minor league pitcher Brian Stephenson to complete the five-player deal in which the Chicago Cubs acquired Ismael Valdes and Eric Young.

The right-handed Stephenson, a second-round draft pick by the Cubs in 1994, split duty last season between their teams in Mesa, Ariz., and Eugene, Ore.

Also, the team hired longtime scout Don Welke as the club’s senior scouting advisor and named Dino Ebel to manage its class-A team in San Bernardino.

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Filling a hole at third base created by the trade of Jeff Cirillo, the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a $10-million, three-year contract with Jose Hernandez.

Hernandez, 30, hit .266 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 508 at-bats last season. Cirillo batted .326 with 15 homers and 88 RBIs in 607 at-bats.

Hernandez, who made $2.4 million last season, gets a $1-million signing bonus and $3 million in each of the next three season.

Hernandez’s first impression of Milwaukee was the weather.

“It’s kind of cold,” he said.

To make room on its roster, Milwaukee designated pitcher Carl Dale for assignment, meaning within 10 days he must be traded, sent outright to the minors or put on unconditional release waivers.

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Richie Phillips’ union, trying to overturn the election it lost to insurgent umpires, wants to postpone the hearing because its lawyers will be on Christmas vacation.

The National Labor Relations Board agreed to hear the objections filed by the Major League Umpires Assn., which lost to the new group, 53-35, in an election conducted by the NLRB last month.

The NLRB called for a hearing next Wednesday but Phillips’ side wants it postponed to the week of Jan. 10.

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General Manager Gerry Hunsicker and Manager Larry Dierker, who have led the Astros to three consecutive division titles, received contract extensions that will keep them in Houston through the 2002 season. Terms were not disclosed. . . . The San Diego Padres hired former major league outfielder Ben Oglivie as hitting coach. . . . Pitcher Jose Rosado avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $5.5-million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. . . . Adding a backup catcher, the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract with Mike Matheny, who had been with Toronto. . . . The Texas Rangers signed three minor league free agents, third baseman Tom Evans, outfielder David Hulse and catcher Reed Secrist.