2B
Monday, April 10, 1995
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN.
Hershiser signs with Cleveland
Pitcher attracted by team's future
The Associated Press
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Orel Hershiser, leaving Los Angeles after 12 years, agreed Saturday with the Cleveland Indians on a $1.45 million, one-year contract.
"There were larger financial offers out there, but you don't always make decisions based on finances," Hershiser said. "I had a fantastic career in Los Angeles. That's one of the best organizations in professional sports. But I saw some of the same qualities of Los Angeles in the Cleveland Indians. I wanted to join another organization that has great
things going for it."
Hershiser, 36, won the National League Cy Young Award in 1988 with a record of 23-8 while leading the Dodgers to a World Series title. He was 134-102 with the Dodgers, with a 3.00 ERA. In 21 last start year, he was 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA.
"We feel Orel was the best free-agent pitcher on the market for us," Cleveland general manager John Hart said. "He's been a staff leader, he's pitched in the postseason, and he's been involved in the last out in a World Series. That's a special quality."
Hershiser joins a Cleveland startin-
ing rotation that has been rounded
out in the past two days. He and free
agent Bud Black, who signed Friday,
will join Dennis Martinez
"Orel will have a spot in the rotation," manager Mike Hargrove said. "I won't say it's the No. 1 spot, but it won't be very far from there."
Charles Nagy and Mark Clark.
Hershiser has high hopes for the Indians.
"I've been on top before, and I want to get there again," he said. "If I'm not the MVP of the World Series, I want to be there to shake the MVP's hand. The Cleveland Indians that win the World Series are going to be a remembered team. I want to be one of those 25 guys."
Hershiser said the signing of Black and designated hitter Dave Winfield influenced his decision to sign with Cleveland.
money out of the budget and left less for me," he said. "But signing guys like that put some sparkle in the other categories for me."
"Maybe in some ways it took some
Hershiser said he thought he had at least two more good years left.
"I'm not the premier guy anymore, but I'm a consistent guy who can be a catalyst to the other players around me," he said. "With the bullpen we have here, the great offense, and the defense, and with the incentive to want to prove myself in a new league — all of that will help me to leverage my ability."
"Sure, I could have the kind of year where I fall on my face and people say. Why in the world did they sign him?" Or I could have the kind of year that will make Cleveland remember me forever."
Royals attract former Toronto catcher
Ex-Blue Jay has no worries about taking big cut in pay
The Associated Press
HAINES CITY, Fla. — Pat Borders is one of the few people in the world who would take a pay cut of nearly 88 percent and feel good.
Then again, not many people made $2.5 million last year.
"I remember making $5 an hour," said Borders, who has a career .255 batting average with 53 home runs and 269 RBI in 741 games with the Toronto Blue Jays.
"You have to keep things in perspective," he said.
A 31-year-old catcher, Borders signed a oneyear deal with Kansas City this week for $310,000.
But he refuses to think about the $2.5 million his contract with Toronto called for last season. And he's not pouting over this harsh post-strike world where millionaires now are making thousands and .250 hitters can't command a king's
ransom.
He's thinking about the common labor jobs he held during those pitiless off-seasons in the minors.
"The salary I just signed for, you could make $5 an hour for about 15 years and not make that kind of money," he said.
He talked with several other clubs before signing with Kansas City, where he will compete with Brent Mayne for the No. 1 catching job.
"It seemed like everyone was offering about the same money," he said. "It was just a matter of what team I thought was most likely to get to the playoffs. I like the Royals' chances of doing well. That's important."
Many players are committing for only one year, hopeful the gravity train will soon get back on track.
"Teams and players lost a lot of money the past few months," Borders said. "Maybe this is the way it's going to be from now on. I'm not in a position to have any idea."
would lock up a million-dollar deal in the old days.
A catcher still in his early 30s with Borders' numbers and experience — he hit .372 in the Blue Jays' two World Series appearances — easily
Now, with little time for agents to shop guys around and play one offer against another, players are putting their names to contracts they used to laugh at.
"I was in the minor leagues for seven years." Borders said. "I worked during the winters back home, just labor work. How am I supposed to be unhappy?"
Nor is he bitter toward the Blue Jays, who made it clear Borders was starting behind two other catchers.
"Those guys have played well and they're good hitters. They deserve a chance to play," he said. "You can't say anything bad about any team that drafts you and gives you the opportunity to play. There are 27 other teams that didn't draft me. They gave me the opportunity to begin with."
If Borders does run short of cash, he could moonlight giving lessons to other players on appreciating what they've got.
"I don't think anyone should be unhappy about playing in the big leagues for any amount of money," he said. "Even the minimum ($109,000 a year) is a lot."
Sox shop around balance rotation
Jim Abbott joins friend McCaskill in the Windy City
The Associated Press
SARASOTA, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox, looking to fill a spot in their starting rotation created by the trade of Jack McDowell to the Yankees, signed left-hander Jim Abbott to a one-year deal Saturday.
Abbott, 27, will make $2 million in base salary and could reach another $750,000 in performance bonuses for starts and innings pitched. If he makes 28 starts and pitches 180 innings, he would equal his 1994 salary.
The White Sox, busy in the free agent market, also signed former Orioles outfielder Mike Devereaux to play right field after losing Darrin Jackson to Japan. Devereaux will make $800,000, down from $3,355,000.
Abbott was 9-8 with a 4.55 ERA with the Yankees last season. In six years with New York and California, he has a 67-74 record, 3.78 ERA and 26 complete games in 181 starts.
"He gives our staff the balance we are looking for in the rotation with two left-handers," White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said.
Right-hander Alex Fernandez is considered the No. I starter, and Abbott will join a staff that includes right-hander Jason Bere and left-hander Wilson Alvarez.
with a partially formed right hand and effortlessly switches his glove to his left hand after making each pitch.
"I don't see where it hinders him. We could never pick up anything on him." White Sox manager Gene Lamont said. "You watch him, he's amazing. I'm sure he doesn't think about it, he does it on impulse. He pitches much like our other guys. He goes after hitters."
Abbott pitched a no-hitter on Sept. 4, 1993, against Cleveland. His best season came with the Angels in 1991 when he was 18-11.
Chicago had been looking at young right-handers Scott Ruff corn and James Baldwin as their fourth and perhaps fifth starters. Now they will compete for the final spot in the rotation.
Kirk McCaslidk, who had hoped to return to the rotation, will gladly go back to the bullpen with the addition of Abbott, whom he works out with in the off season. They are best friends.
"It's fine by me," said McCaskill, who resigned Friday. I had two priorities, to get back to playing with Jim again and to win a World Series. I'm ecstatic, I'm very happy."
Abbott, who was scheduled to report to camp for a workout Sunday, made $2.775 million last season with the Yankees.
Devereaux, who turns 32 Monday, batted. 203 in 85 games with the Orioles last season. He had nine horners and 33 RBIs.
In eight seasons, Deveraux has batted .251 with 86 homers and 375 RBs.
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