Henderson Finally Nears a Deal With Padres

After being ignored by teams all spring, career steals leader Rickey Henderson was on the verge of signing a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres--one of his many former teams.

Padre General Manager Kevin Towers said he expected to finalize the deal, an incentive-laden contract with a base salary slightly above the major league minimum of $200,000, on Sunday night.

Henderson was not re-signed by the Seattle Mariners after last season and has played for seven major league teams in a 22-season career that has included four stops in Oakland. He played for the Padres in 1996 and part of 1997.

On Sunday, Henderson watched the Padres’ 9-8 victory against the San Francisco Giants from the San Diego dugout at Scottsdale, Ariz.

“This is a breath of fresh air, this is home,” Henderson said. “It’s like if you get laid off and, all of a sudden, you get your job back.”

*

Rick Ankiel is struggling again. The St. Louis Cardinal left-hander, who threw nine wild pitches in four horrendous postseason innings last fall, walked eight in less than two innings in the 6-4 loss against the Florida Marlins at Jupiter, Fla.

Ankiel was brilliant in his spring debut last week, throwing 22 of 29 pitches for strikes over two scoreless innings. His second public start was a different story.

Although Manager Tony La Russa and several players downplayed the need to fix Ankiel’s control problems, pitching coach Dave Duncan said he was concerned that the season is only two weeks away.

“For him to be ready to start the season where we would like him to be, we’re a little short on time,” Duncan said.

*

New York Met Mike Piazza, sidelined for 10 days because of bone bruise on his left knee, caught three innings in a minor league game. Piazza, who hasn’t played since being injured March 6 in a running drill, participated in simulated running drills and reported no pain.

*

New York Yankee pitcher Orlando Hernandez stopped his first bullpen session since injuring his right arm after five minutes because of continued inflammation.

The team said that Hernandez, who has not pitched since March 9, will be put on medication and be reexamined in a few days.

Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina, bruised on the inside of his left knee by a batted ball last Thursday, will work out today. Shortstop Derek Jeter (right quadriceps) resumed throwing and stretching drills and should return by the end of the week.

*

Pitcher Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox had a brace on his left wrist, a day after being hit on the base of the thumb by a line drive in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

He said the area where he was hit is sore and swollen, but the injury to his glove hand does not affect the right-hander’s ability to pitch. The brace is designed to immobilize the wrist and he expected to wear it one more day.

*

David Wells, 37, insists he will retire after this season if the Chicago White Sox don’t exercise his $9-million option for 2002.

Wells, acquired in January from Toronto, will make $8.25 million this year and Chicago would have to pay a $1.25-million buyout if it declines the option.

*

The San Francisco Giants signed catcher Benito Santiago, 36, to a minor-league contract and said they expect him to be on the major-league roster by opening day.