One righty (Maddux) is re-signed By Larry Whiteside and Nick Cafardo Globe Staff, 12/08/96 As expected, the Red Sox offered salary arbitration to Roger Clemens and Tim Naehring yesterday, ensuring that the team will receive compensation if either free agent signs elsewhere. Boston's third arbitration-eligible player, pitcher Mike Maddux, agreed to a one-year contract. Any team signing Clemens will owe the Red Sox a first-round draft choice next June. Naehring, who officially gained his free agency at 2 p.m. yesterday, will cost a team three picks (a first, a sandwich and a second). More important, the arbitration offer allows the Sox to continue negotiating with the players; without it, the team wouldn't be allowed to re-sign either until May 1, when Clemens and Naehring would be long gone. ``Naturally, we're still negotiating with Clemens,'' said general manager Dan Duquette, ``but several others are, too. Maybe in the middle of next week we'll have a better idea of where Roger chooses to go. ``We understand that he has several options available to him. At some point in time, he'll have to make a decision. Meanwhile, we're also talking to some other pitchers.'' The Yankees, for one, are said to be in the thick of the Clemens sweepstakes. Naehring is now a Type A free agent, and the baggage of three choices will discourage some from approaching him. He is expected to be in town today for contract talks. The deadline for offering arbitration to eligible players was midnight; those who weren't offered can sign elsewhere with no compensation due their former team. Duquette expected several good players to fall into that category. ``We've got our eyes on a couple of people who could help our team,'' said Duquette. ``But a lot of these players are still negotiating with the former team.'' Maddux' deal was for $600,000, with $250,000 guaranteed. The 35-year-old, who was 3-2 last season, can make $200,000 in performance bonuses. A's interested again The A's and Red Sox may be rekindling talks that ended abruptly about a month ago concerning a deal that would send Jose Canseco to the Oakland A's for center fielder Ernie Young and others. At the time, the A's wanted the Red Sox to assume $2 million-$3 million of Canseco's annual salary. Now that the A's have lost catcher Terry Steinbach to the Twins, they have more money to play with, so the Sox may not have to assume as much. Canseco, stung by the firing of Kevin Kennedy, still wants to be traded, but even though he spent his glory years in Oakland, it's not his preference to return. ``If I had a choice, I'd go to Texas or Florida,'' said Canseco. ``The Marlins play about 15 minutes from my house. I enjoyed Texas and the atmosphere there.'' Still, Canseco likes the thought of reuniting with ``Bash Brother'' Mark McGwire, and Oakland ownership is seeking someone who can sell tickets. New team springs up Make way for the Springfield Red Sox. Two years from now, they hope to open the season in a stadium that hasn't been built yet. And with a $15 million commitment from the state that hasn't been made yet. Springfield cleared the first hurdle yesterday when it was selected, along with Erie, Pa., as a site for an expansion Double A franchise. The new teams will play in the Eastern League and can affiliate with any of the 30 major league franchises, but the people behind the bid feel they will be part of the Red Sox community in New England. ``This is a very exciting day for Springfield, Mass.,'' said Mayor Michael Albano. ``We had a team many years ago. We lost the franchise in 1965. Thirty-one years later, we're back.'' Well, not exactly. The Red Sox still have a contract with the Trenton (N.J.) Thunder, a club that led all Double A franchises in attendance last season. Gov. William Weld has pushed for a sports franchise in the middle part of the state to help the sagging economy west of Springfield. Finding support for a $15 million stadium won't be easy. But the Red Sox have let the city know they support the initiative. ``We support the efforts of Springfield all the way,'' said Duquette. ``We tried to let the politicians know that we're committed to a long-term program of bringing as many of our minor league teams as we can to New England. ``It's good for the Red Sox and it's good for the fans to see the kids when they are in the development program.'' This story ran on page c9 of the Boston Globe on 12/08/96.