Padres Re-Sign Carlos Hernandez

Catcher Carlos Hernandez returned to the San Diego Padres Wednesday, agreeing to a $6.5 million, three-year contract.

Last season was Hernandez's first as a starter. He spent his first seven big-league seasons as a backup with the Dodgers and 1997 as a backup with the Padres.

His agent, Elliott Vallin, said it came down to a choice among San Diego, Baltimore and Anaheim, but Baltimore dropped out after it obtained Charles Johnson in a three-way deal with Los Angeles and the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

"I think we made the wise decision to come back," Vallin said.

Hernandez, who was in his native Venezuela, has a good relationship with Kevin Brown and planned to call the free agent pitcher, Vallin said.

Re-signing Brown is San Diego's top off-season priority.

Hernandez gets a $750,000 signing bonus, $1 million next season, $1.5 million in 2000 and $3.25 million in 2001.

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