After announcing Saturday that the Yankees had agreed to a $6.6
million, four-year contract with Cuban defector Orlando Hernandez,
the New York owner admitted he rushed Hideki Irabu to the major
leagues last season.
"I don't want to make another mistake like I did last year with
Hideki Irabu,'' Steinbrenner said. "Irabu was my mistake. This
time we're going to take it slower. I think Hernandez will start at
(Triple-A) Columbus.''
Hernandez, whose half-brother Livan Hernandez was MVP of the NL
championship series and the World Series for the Florida Marlins,
gets a $1 million signing bonus, $500,000 this year and $1.7
million in each of the next three seasons.
Last year, Irabu agreed to a $12.8 million, four-year contract,
sped through the minors and joined the Yankees after the All-Star
break. He made 13 appearances, going 5-4 with a 7.09 ERA.
"It's a very difficult situation coming from another country
and playing major-league baseball,'' Irabu said. "It's a very
similar situation. I can't give him any advice because I don't
speak English.''
Hernandez was banned from Cuban baseball in October. 1996 after
Livan defected. Orlando Hernandez and his wife were part of a group
that fled the communist-controlled island by boat last December.
"How can you get down on a guy who escaped from a country
that's not free,'' Yankees pitcher David Cone said. "I can't
imagine his life in Cuba. You have to admire the kid. He's got a
chance to be free and pitch in the big league's.''
Hernandez is being projected as a future fourth-or-fifth
starter
in the New York rotation.
"It might be '98 or it might be '99, but I hope it's not
never,'' Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "There's no
timetable. This year would be a bonus. If he develops, we got
somebody at a modest price.''
The Hernandez signing came one-day after the Yankees renewed
the
contracts of shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera at
$750,000 for the 1998 season.
"They're two different situations,'' Jeter said. "I understand
the situation. They thought they needed to sign him. It doesn't
bother me.''
Both Jeter and Rivera become eligible for salary arbitration
next winter.
"I'm not angry or upset about it,'' Rivera said. "I understand
the process. I just have to wait my turn. I'm happy for the guy.''
There has been considerable debate about Hernandez's actual
age,
which has been placed between 28 and 32.