Mcdowell, Yankees Settle Up For $5.4 Million

Jack McDowell and the New York Yankees avoided salary arbitration when they agreed Sunday to a $5.4 million, one-year contract in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

McDowell acquired from the Chicago White Sox during the strike, gets a raise of just $100,000. He is eligible for free agency after the season. If the strike hadn’t occurred, he would have been eligible last fall.

McDowell was 10-9 with a 3.73 ERA in 25 starts last year. The 1993 A.L. Cy Young Award winner had lost three consecutive times in arbitration.

“It’s not worth it to try to eke out every dollar you can,” the pitcher said.

McDowell initially sought a four-year deal from the Yankees in excess of $5 million annually, but the club was reluctant to commit to that.

Dodgers prep Japanese star

Former Japan League star Hideo Nomo will pitch Thursday at Rancho Cucamonga in a California League game and may start for Los Angeles on May 2 at San Francisco, the Dodgers announced.

Nomo, 26, who signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in February, will start for Bakersfield, an independent club formerly affiliated with the Dodgers. He was 2-0 with a 0.82 earned run average in three spring appearances.

Among other moves, the Dodgers designated shortstop Rafael Bournigal for assignment and added former Spokane Indians shortstop Dick Schofield, a 12-year bigleague veteran, to their 40-man roster.

Walks kill Mariners

Seattle closer Bobby Ayala walked Howard Johnson with two outs and the bases loaded to force in the game-winning run as the Chicago Cubs escaped with a 6-5 victory over the Mariners at Peoria, Ariz.

Ozzie Timmons led off the ninth inning with a single and Tuffy Rhodes walked. Two outs later, Kevin Roberson walked and Ayala also walked Johnson on a full-count pitch.

“Ayala doesn’t seem ready,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. “He’s not locating the ball and his philosophy is not where it was last year.”

The Cubs tied the game at 5-all at the top of the eighth inning, scoring two runs off Mariners reliever Lee Guetterman.

The Mariners had taken a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Edgar Martinez, who hit his fourth homer of the spring in the fourth inning, singled and went to third on Tino Martinez’s double.

Edgar Martinez scored on an infield out and after Chad Kreuter was intentionally walked, Luis Sojo singled to drive in pinch runner Craig Griffey from third base. A walk to Darren Bragg loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly by Dennis Strange scored Kreuter.

Clemens caught in middle

Doctors say Rogers Clemens shouldn’t pick up a baseball for 10 days. Kevin Kennedy, his manager with the Boston Red Sox, says Clemens needs to make a few starts in extended spring training.

Clemens, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, returned to Florida, a day after an examination in Worcester, Mass., showed a muscle strain in his throwing shoulder.

Team doctor Arthur Pappas told him not to pick up a ball for 10-14 days and not to pitch in game situations for another 10-14.

Kennedy did not agree, saying Clemens will appear in a couple of Double- or TripleA games before rejoining the Red Sox.

Sosa receives big bucks

Outfielder Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $4.3 million, one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

Sosa, 26, led the Cubs with a .300 average last season, hitting 25 homers with 70 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. He made $2.95 million.