‘Big Unit’ Comes To Camp, Full Of Ambivalent Feelings

Mariners spring training

He answered one question by showing up Sunday, but Randy Johnson’s presence in the Seattle clubhouse may have raised another - will his contract status be a distraction in 1998?

The only 20-game winner in franchise history walked into the clubhouse at 9:01 a.m., the last player to arrive for the first workout of pitchers and catchers and a 9:30 a.m. meeting.

For the Mariners, Johnson’s arrival was the good news.

When the “Big Unit” showed up, accompanied by one of his two agents and a friend, he initially declined to talk to the press and had his agent fax a release to the team for distribution to the media.

In that statement, he said he would have “welcomed” an off-season trade but, because “I am an honorable man” he will now focus on the business at hand. And he said he would no longer talk about his displeasure with the team decision not to extend his contract.

That moratorium, however, lasted until Johnson’s first interview.

“What’s funny is I know how important I am to this team,” Johnson said after the workout. “But the team didn’t want to sit down with my agents and talk about an extension. I’m not looking to set a new (salary) standard. I probably would have signed for less, because my wife has family here.

“When I’m gone, and it’s inevitable that I will be - not by my doing but by theirs - I’ll miss the fans. They’ve been very supportive of my nine seasons here.”

Johnson acknowledged he had considered not reporting Sunday, then insisted there was never any doubt he’d honor his contract.

“I’m upbeat, I’m ready to go,” he said.

Did that mean he was happy to be a Mariner?

“I didn’t say that,” Johnson replied.

For their part, the Mariners went about the business of their first official workout by braving the elements - heavy overnight rains left the playing fields unusable - and telling anyone who asked how happy they were Johnson was there.

“He’s our staff ace,” pitching coach Nardi Contreras said. “You’ve got to be glad when he comes in on time and in great shape.”

“I’m happy Randy is here. He did his work like everyone else today,” manager Lou Piniella said. “This may be the best staff I’ve ever come to a camp with, and Randy is a big part of that.”

Like the other 27 pitchers in camp Sunday, Johnson threw off one of the bullpen mounds, throwing 30 fastballs and then working on hitting drills in the batting cage. While camera crews dutifully filmed Ryan Anderson and Jeff Fassero, Heathcliff Slocumb and Jamie Moyer, all eyes - and lenses - stayed close to Johnson.

Since November, when the Mariners declined to offer Johnson a contract extension beyond the $6-million deal that carries through this season, the 1995 Cy Young Award winner has been angry and, occasionally, vocal about it.

So before arriving in camp, Johnson had one agent, Alan Nero, call the Mariners front office to explain the ground rules: Johnson would not speak to the press before the workout. Some time during the workout, Johnson’s written statement would be released. After the workout, Johnson would talk to the media.

And so he did.

“I’m healthy this spring, but I’m going to take it slow early on. It’s not like I’m trying to win a spot in the rotation,” Johnson said. “The goal is to be ready opening night. What I want to do this season is win enough games to help get us to a World Series. Two of the last three years, we’ve reached the playoffs - there’s just a hump we have to get over to go farther.”

Asked if trade rumors this spring would bother him, Johnson shook his head.

“I’ve heard them all year and they haven’t fazed me,” he said. “But I thought I’d be gone by now.”

Swift signs

Right-hander Bill Swift signed a minor league contract Saturday.

Swift, who pitched for the Mariners from 1986 through 1991, finished last season with AAA Rochester, a Baltimore Orioles farm club, after being released by the Colorado Rockies.

Medical update

First injury of the spring was a sprained right thumb and it belonged not to a player but to team strength and conditioning coordinator Allen Wirtala, who hurt it playing basketball.

Notes

With Johnson and 27 or 28 other pitchers in camp, only one hurler missed the first workout - Felipe Lira. It was assumed Lira was having visa problems in Venezuela, but by noon the team had not been able to reach the player or his agent… . Only one position player, Russ Davis, is officially in camp and able to participate in workouts. Davis ended the season on the disabled list, and so can report ahead of the rest of the position players, who begin workouts Thursday… . Second baseman Joey Cora has been in Peoria for a week, coming out early and talking someone into hitting him ground balls at 7:30 a.m. - well before workouts begin. On Sunday, he was there, but the field wasn’t usable because of overnight rains. So Cora lifted weights and went home… . The “Young Unit,” 18-year-old left-hander Ryan Anderson, may now have officially surpassed the height of Randy Johnson. They were both 6-foot-10 last summer, but the Mariners say Anderson has grown three-fourths of an inch since. “I’m done for now,” Anderson said of the growth… . Right-hander Rafael Carmona, who broke his throwing arm in three places in a winter traffic accident, played catch for the first time since being injured. He’s months away from pitching.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Associated Press By Larry LaRue Tacoma News Tribune