Molitor Goes Home: Dh Leaves Blue Jays To Play For Twins

Paul Molitor returned to his roots, signing with the Minnesota Twins Tuesday.

On the first busy day of the free-agent signing season, Molitor agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with Minnesota. The 39-year-old designated hitter has the option of staying with the Twins in 1997 at a $2 million salary.

“Every night when I lay down, I kept saying ‘Minnesota,”’ said Molitor, a St. Paul, Minn., native who completed an $11 million, three-year deal with Toronto.

Craig Biggio, one of the top free agents this off-season, narrowed his list of teams slightly by eliminating the Mets.

Colorado, Houston, St. Louis and San Diego remain interested in Biggio, who rejected a $20 million, four-year offer from the Astros.

Mark Grace, another Axelrod client, remains interested in Cleveland, St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs.

The Florida Marlins, who traded outfielder Chuck Carr on Monday, agreed to a $1,275,000, two-year contract with outfielder Joe Orsulak. He was coming off a $1.7 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets.

Third baseman Tim Wallach, not wanted back by the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreed to a minor-league contract with the California Angels.

Jack Howell, a 34-year-old third baseman who spent seven seasons in the majors before playing in Japan, rejoined the Angels, signing a one-year minor-league contract with the club.

Free-agent signings figure to pick up this week. Many clubs will be interested in signing players after Thursday, when those free agents not offered salary arbitration will be available without draft-pick compensation.

Among players eligible for salary arbitration, Jim Poole and the Cleveland Indians agreed to a $400,000, one-year contract, a raise of $50,000.