Houston Keeps Biggio As Free Agents Hit It Big

Second baseman Craig Biggio decided to stay in Houston on Thursday, while Jack McDowell found a new team in Cleveland and Randy Myers signed with Baltimore.

On a day in which teams committed $57.26 million to eight free agents, Biggio got a $22.36 million, four-year contract from the Astros, McDowell got a $10.15 million, two-year deal with the Indians and Myers got $6.3 million over two years from the Orioles.

Al Leiter may have gotten the most astonishing deal of the day. After going 11-11 with a 3.64 ERA last season for Toronto and making $795,000, he agreed to an $8.6 million, three-year deal with the Florida Marlins.

Center fielder Lance Johnson got about $5 million over two years from the New York Mets, and catcher Mike Stanley was given a $2.3 million, one-year deal by the Boston Red Sox.

Outfielder Darryl Hamilton agreed to a $1.05 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, and outfielder Mike Kingery signed a $1.5 million, two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In a surprising move considering speculation over a Cardinals-A’s blockbuster deal, San Francisco Giants traded Royce Clayton to St. Louis for three pitchers.

Clayton, the Giants’ No. 1 draft choice in 1988, joins new Cardinals manager Tony La Russa in exchange for left-handers Allen Watson and Doug Creek and right-hander Rich DeLucia. The Cardinals also will receive a player to be named in January.

Biggio, who turned 30 Thursday, spent much of this week deciding among offers from Houston, Colorado, St. Louis and San Diego. In the end, he opted to stay with the Astros for a contract that gives him $2 million next season, $6.18 million in 1997, $6.12 million in 1998 and $6.06 million in 1999. The Astros have a $5 million option for 2000 with a $2 million buyout.

“The decision came down to the people here,” Biggio said. “I consider myself a loyal person and I’ve been a part of this organization for eight years. We’re going to make it work. I want to win in an Astros uniform.”

McDowell will be playing for his third team in three years. The 1993 A.L. Cy Young Award winner gets $4.8 million in each of the next two seasons. The Indians have an option for 1998 at the same salary but must pay a $550,000 buyout if they don’t exercise it.

“We didn’t have many pieces to fill, and I think some of the pieces we filled were from within,” Indians general manager John Hart said. “And I think Jack obviously was the big piece from outside.”

Myers, a 33-year-old left-hander who completed an $11 million, three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, will receive a $1 million signing bonus, $2.1 million in 1996 and $3.2 million the following year.

“It’s going to be new for me because this will be the first time through (the A.L.),” he said.

By joining the Marlins, Leiter gets to pitch for his hometown team. He gets $2.7 million next year, $2.9 million in 1997 and $3 million in 1998.

Florida general manager Dave Dombrowski said he wants to sign another pitcher.

“Our No. 1 preference would be David Cone. After that I would prefer not to rank them,” Dombrowski said.

Johnson had trouble believing the White Sox didn’t want him back. He hit .306 last season with a league-leading 186 hits, 12 triples, 10 homers, 57 RBIs and 40 steals.

“The White Sox never used me correctly,” Johnson said. “I should have been hitting leadoff all seven years there. I never complained about it. It took them six years to realize I was the best man for the job all the time.”

Stanley, 32, became a free agent after hitting .268 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs in 118 games last season. The Yankees decided not to sign him and acquired Joe Girardi from Colorado to replace him.

Boston and Stanley have a mutual option for 1997. Stanley can exercise it at $2.1 million. If he decides not to, the Red Sox can exercise it at $2.75 million.