Less than four months ago, Tino Martinez was the enemy. He wore the aqua-and-navy garb of the Mariners and played first base for the American League West champions. Seattle, of course, was the team that sent the Yankees home from their first postseason trip in 14 years. And Martinez had made a habit of beating the Yankees with his bat.

As far as Kenny Rogers was concerned, Yankee fans reserved no special bile for the Texas lefthander. Just the usual jeering, animosity and epithets.

But yesterday, during the sixth annual Yankees Fan Fest, both Martinez and Rogers were welcomed into the fold. Their past exploits against the Yankees quickly were forgotten, the slate wiped clean as easily as a salt-splashed windshield. Heck, the two players had fans stretched from one end of the New York Coliseum to the other awaiting their autographs on Yankee helmets, posters and bats.

So Martinez and Rogers, who signed long-term contracts with the club during the offseason, pressed the flesh during their allotted three-hour stint. You would have thought they spent most of their lives a stone's throw from the Macombs Dam Bridge.

"It's my first time in New York as a Yankee," said Martinez, who flew into the city Thursday afternoon and spent much of the time house-hunting with his wife, Marie. "I'm pretty excited about getting the chance to be here with the fans on my side."

Martinez was among the core group of Mariners that elevated the once-lowly expansion franchise last season, but he knew his days were numbered. He hit .293 with 31 home runs and 111 RBI, he was arbitration-eligible and Seattle wasn't about to pay him the type of salary that kind of production warranted.

So the Yankees dealt third baseman Russ Davis and lefthander Sterling Hitchcock to the Mariners for Martinez and relievers Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir. Then they locked up Martinez with a five-year, $20.25-million contract. That was all it took to make him love New York.

"I was happy to be a part of the team that finally got [the Mariners] over the hump and into the playoffs," Martinez said. "But I knew I was going to get traded. Coming to the Yankees was all I could ask for."

To make room for Martinez, however, there was the delicate situation involving Don Mattingly. He already was a legend in the Bronx and a 13-year veteran loved by the fans, but free agent Mattingly's status was uncertain. He chose to step aside, allowing the front office to move ahead gracefully and clear the way for his 28-year-old replacement.

Mattingly was everywhere and nowhere yesterday. His likeness, both sketched and captured on film, was propped up at almost every memorabilia booth. But he was absent, back home in Evansville, Ind., pondering his future and trying to figure out if baseball will be a part of it. Martinez must not only play for acceptance but exorcise those ghosts as well. "Obviously he's one of the greatest Yankees ever," Martinez said. "I'm interested to see what's going to happen here. I have no idea what to expect. All the people back home in Tampa are Yankee fans. They knew somebody had to come in and be the first baseman so they're excited I got the chance. It's an honor to be the next guy after Mattingly."

The pressure facing Rogers may not be as pronounced, although he is following in the footsteps of the departed Jack McDowell. The Yankees chose to cut their ties with McDowell, denying him arbitration, and then astonishingly guaranteed Rogers $19.5 million over four years. The deal was remarkable on two counts. First, GM Bob Watson denied any interest in the lefthander. And second, the amount of money was staggering - especially after the Yankees said they couldn't afford McDowell, who later signed with the AL champion Indians.

The Yankees always seemed to be a longshot for Rogers. There was a feeling that he didn't want to pitch in New York, that his temperament was not suited for the sometimes hostile surroundings. But that's ancient history now. Rogers couldn't have been happier yesterday.

"I think it's going to make a big difference playing in this atmosphere," said Rogers, who had spent his entire seven-year career with the Rangers. "It's nice to be on a team that has the possibility of winning a World Series. I haven't had that in the past."

Rogers was 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA last season and should fit nicely behind David Cone in a what is shaping up to be a formidable rotation. After wrapping up his session yesterday, the 31-year-old lefthander rushed to catch a flight to Tampa, eager to get a jump on spring training. A native of nearby Plant City, Rogers is certain to have a sizable audience of family members in the stands of the new stadium when camp opens Feb. 14.

"My parents are really happy," he said. "My dad's always been a Yankee fan and he's really happy about it. All of my family back home is glad because they feel that just now I've made it to the big leagues. I think they never considered Texas a big-league ballclub."

By David Lennon. STAFF WRITER

Copyright 1996, Newsday Inc.