BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Martinez Signs One-Year Deal Worth $725,000

Ramon Martinez surprised the Dodgers, and perhaps revealed how much last year’s contract problems affected him, by signing a one-year deal worth $725,000 Wednesday night.

The signing occurred shortly before the Dodgers would have renewed Martinez at the same figure. As late as Wednesday morning, the Dodgers believed a renewal was imminent.

“I decided I wanted to keep my good relationship with the club,” Martinez said. “I don’t want to have to think about any of this. I just want to pitch.”

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, said: “The credit belongs to Ramon. With dollar figures swirling all around baseball, he managed to look through all of that and see what was best.”

It is the first time Martinez has signed a major league contract that did not involve either a renewal or a holdout.

Darryl Strawberry said he phoned Dwight Gooden on Tuesday night to speak about Strawberry’s implication in his autobiography that Gooden may have used cocaine during the 1986 playoffs.

“Doc finally read it right out of the book, and he understands that I did not accuse him of anything,” Strawberry said. “He said he understands everything. He said he knows we love each other, and that I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that friendship.”

Peter O’Malley, Dodger president, was released from Centinela Hospital Medical Center Wednesday. O’Malley had been hospitalized for nine days because of a respiratory tract infection. . . . Tom Candiotti will miss camp from March 15-21 to attend divorce proceedings in Northern California.