Pitcher Ron Darling and the New York...

Pitcher Ron Darling and the New York Mets agreed on a 3-year, $5.3-million contract, and seven other players agreed to 1-year contracts, reducing the players in salary arbitration to 68.

The seven are outfielder Bill Hatcher and pitchers Juan Agosto and Jim Deshaies of the Houston Astros; third baseman Jim Presley and catcher Dave Valle of the Seattle Mariners; catcher Joel Skinner of the New York Yankees, and pitcher Juan Nieves of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Also, the Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent left-hander Larry McWilliams to a 1-year contract plus an option for 1990.