Padres, Vaughn Agree

Greg Vaughn agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract with the San Diego Padres.

The deal allows the two sides to avoid an arbitration hearing on Friday and keeps Vaughn behind his good friend, N.L. MVP Ken Caminiti, in the heart of San Diego’s lineup beyond 1997.

Outfielder Andy Van Slyke, who retired after the 1995 season due to back problems, has been invited to the St. Louis Cardinals’ camp as a non-roster player. The New York Mets reached back to their past and agreed to a minor-league contract with Howard Johnson. Johnson, 36, spent 1996 as a minor-league coach in Butte, Mont. Johnson last played with the Chicago Cubs in 1995 as an outfielder and third baseman

He is second on the Mets’ career lists in homers, RBIs, steals, extra-base hits and doubles.

Pitcher Dave Burba avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds that guarantees him $8.15 million.