Groom, Heredia Avoid Arbitration

Oakland pitchers Buddy Groom and Gil Heredia avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to one-year contracts.

Groom, who earned $595,000 last season, gets $850,000. Heredia, who made $275,000, gets $375,000.

Groom appeared in 75 games for Oakland last season, posting a 3-1 record and a 4.24 ERA. He also set a team record with 225 appearances in the past three seasons.

Heredia spent most of the 1998 season at Triple-A Edmonton, where he was 10-8 with a 3.67 ERA.

Monday's signings leave the A's with two players eligible for arbitration -- pitchers