Released Hershiser Weighs Options

The Dodgers formally released pitcher Orel Hershiser after he cleared waivers Friday, making the 17-year veteran a free agent.

Hershiser, 41, has declined comment since the club announced Tuesday it planned to release him. Hershiser was 1-5 with a 13.14 earned-run average in 10 appearances.

After completing the waiver process, the Dodgers released a brief statement from Hershiser.

“These certainly have been interesting days,” the statement read. “First, my family and I want to thank so many people who have called to wish us well. Your words of encouragement are sincerely appreciated.

“The waiting period is over and I have cleared waivers, making me a free agent. Already I have received a number of inquiries, both from inside and outside of baseball. We’re taking the long holiday weekend to seek the counsel of family and friends, and to pray about our future.”

Hershiser was expected to clear waivers because a team that claimed him would have been responsible for the remainder of his $2-million salary this season. The 204-game winner has a $2-million contract option next season, which can be bought out for $500,000.

The Dodgers will pay the remainder of Hershiser’s package if he retires. Teams can sign Hershiser for the $200,000 major league minimum, and the Dodgers must pay the rest.

Manager Davey Johnson spoke Friday with Hershiser.

“He’s doing all right, but it’s a tough time,” Johnson said. “Even for me it’s still emotional, as it is for him.

“When we [return to Los Angeles] off the road trip, he’s going to come back and visit with the guys at some point. It’s just a very difficult time he’s going through.”

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Commissioner Bud Selig will hear the Dodgers’ second appeal stemming from their brawl with fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Catcher Chad Kreuter and outfielders Gary Sheffield and F.P. Santangelo will go before Selig in Atlanta during the July 10-12 All-Star break.

Selig will rule on penalties ordered against the players, which were not reduced in the the initial appeal, after a May 16 melee with fans in the stands.

Kreuter faces an eight-game suspension, and Sheffield and Santangelo five games each. The Major League Players Assn. will represent the players again.

Paul Beeston, baseball’s chief operating officer, overturned suspensions of 11 of 16 players and one of three coaches who faced disciplinary action issued by Frank Robinson, vice president of on-field operations.

Pitcher Mike Fetters, whose suspension was reduced from four games to one, won’t appeal Beeston’s decision. The veteran reliever will sit out a game July 21 against the San Francisco Giants.

Pitcher Carlos Perez is expected to begin serving his five-game suspension July 16 in a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-hander would miss one turn in the rotation.

Kreuter considered dropping his appeal, but said the union persuaded him to pursue the matter for many reasons.

“I was ready to bite the bullet, be a team player and take the suspension, but my counsel feels it is in my best interest to take it through the appeal process,” Kreuter said. “This is a big issue for major league baseball and fan relations. There are a lot of ramifications. They need to look at a lot of things that us laymen don’t understand.”

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The Dodgers wondered how Beeston and Robinson could see the situation so differently, considering Beeston sided with the club in significantly reducing the suspensions.

The Dodgers initially stood to lose players for a total of 60 games. Beeston reduced the number to 24.

“There’s a difference in philosophy,” said a high-ranking baseball official. “Frank believes that anyone who goes into the stands should be suspended.

“Paul believes that anyone who goes into the stands should be fined, but not necessarily suspended. He believes there may be mitigating circumstances.

Robinson believes he performed his duties well.

“I’m completely satisfied with my role in the process,” Robinson said. “Whether or not I agree with [Beeston’s ruling] is not the question. We each did our jobs, and all you can do is move on.”

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Reliever Gregg Olson, on the disabled list since April 8 because of a right forearm strain, pitched one inning for Class-A San Bernardino. He gave up one hit and one walk.

TODAY

DODGERS’

CARLOS PEREZ

(4-3, 5.25 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

KIRK RUETER

(5-4, 4.23 ERA)

Pacific Bell Park, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Perez returns to the rotation after working out of the bullpen in his last two outings. The left-hander gave up only one run in 8 2/3 strong innings, pitching 4 1/3 innings in each appearance. Perez is 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA against the Giants. He gave up three runs in six innings April 13 in an 11-7 victory over the Giants. Rueter is 4-4 with a 5.05 ERA against the Dodgers.