The Associated Press
AP Online
12-18-1998
NEW YORK (AP) _ With all the big-name free agents signed, teams turned their attention to second-tier pitchers.
The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $4 million, two-year contract with Pete Schourek, and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year deal with Xavier Hernandez worth about $2.5 million.
Schourek, a 29-year-old left-hander, spent last season with Houston and Boston, going 7-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 starts for the Astros and 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 appearances for the Red Sox.
Hernandez, 33, made 46 relief appearances for Texas, going 6-6 with one save and a 3.57 ERA. Also, the Orioles agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Doug Linton, and said they reached a tentative agreement with right-hander Ricky Bones.
Among players eligible for salary arbitration, Detroit right-hander Brian Moehler agreed to a $4.7 million, three-year contract; New York Mets backup catcher Todd Pratt agreed to a $350,000, one-year deal; San Francisco shortstop Rich Aurilia agreed to a $2 million, two-year contract; Toronto right-hander Bill Risley agreed to a $575,000, one-year contract; and Chicago Cubs infielder Manny Alexander agreed to a one-year deal.
Meanwhile, New York Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry withdrew his free-agent filing as part of a complicated process that will end up with him agreeing to a minor league contract.
As a result, if he is not recovered from colon cancer surgery by opening day and starts the season either in the minor leagues or on a minor league disabled list, his $2.5 million salary will not count in the Yankees' payroll, and thus will lower the team's luxury tax bill for 1999. FOOTBALL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - With the Carolina Panthers quickly going from one of the NFL's promising teams to one of its worst, Dom Capers reportedly will be fired at the end of the season.
Owner Jerry Richardson, who has not granted interviews in six months, is not saying if he plans to get rid of the coach whose team played for the NFC title two years ago but is 2-12 this season. Four newspapers, all quoting unidentified sources, reported that Capers will not return.
One coach who definitely won't be back is assistant Kevin Steele, who told the team he's leaving to take the head coaching job at Baylor. Linebacker Kevin Greene attacked Steele on the sideline during Sunday's game, but Steele had interviewed for the Baylor job before the scuffle.
ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves was expected to be released from the hospital today, four days after quadruple bypass surgery.
Reeves, 54, will miss the last two games of the regular season, but expects to return for the playoffs. The Falcons (12-2) can clinch the NFC West title Sunday with a victory over Detroit.
CHICAGO (AP) - Former Northwestern receiver Michael Senters pleaded innocent and denied lying to federal grand juries investigating sports betting at the school.
Senters, was one of four former players charged this month, is accused of lying about a $500 bet he is said to have placed on a 1994 game between Northwestern and Ohio State, a game in which he played. OLYMPICS
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Justice Department is weighing whether it needs to investigate allegations of bribery in the awarding of the 2002 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Salt Lake City officials acknowledged giving a paid internship to the son of an International Olympic Committee member.
Last week, the Salt Lake committee of civic leaders that successfully bid for the 2002 Winter Games said it spent $400,000 on scholarships for 13 student-athletes - six of them relatives of IOC members.
In Washington, Attorney General Janet Reno said the Justice Department's criminal division is considering a formal probe into the allegations. Such reviews are common and fall far short of an actual criminal investigation, which would be undertaken by the U.S. Attorney for Utah. BASKETBALL
NEW YORK (AP) - Commissioner David Stern took his case directly to the players, mailing each of them a nine-page letter outlining the owners' latest collective bargaining proposal.
The letter, complete with charts and graphs, was sent by overnight mail as the opposing sides were deep into another lull in talks. No new negotiations are expected until after Christmas. HOCKEY
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) - The New York Islanders ended a long contract battle with Zigmund Palffy, agreeing to a five-year contract.
Mike Milbury, the team's coach and general manager, confirmed the deal, which is worth about $25 million, including a $1 million signing bonus. The Islanders have an option for a sixth season at $7 million.
Palffy, 26, expected to sign the contract today, had 45 goals and 42 assists in 82 games last season after scoring 48 goals in 1996-97. GOLF
HOUSTON (AP) - Dave Williams, who coached the University of Houston to 16 NCAA championships, died late Wednesday in Wharton. He was 80.
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved.
AP Online
12-18-1998
NEW YORK (AP) _ With all the big-name free agents signed, teams turned their attention to second-tier pitchers.
The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $4 million, two-year contract with Pete Schourek, and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year deal with Xavier Hernandez worth about $2.5 million.
Schourek, a 29-year-old left-hander, spent last season with Houston and Boston, going 7-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 starts for the Astros and 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 appearances for the Red Sox.
Hernandez, 33, made 46 relief appearances for Texas, going 6-6 with one save and a 3.57 ERA. Also, the Orioles agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Doug Linton, and said they reached a tentative agreement with right-hander Ricky Bones.
Among players eligible for salary arbitration, Detroit right-hander Brian Moehler agreed to a $4.7 million, three-year contract; New York Mets backup catcher Todd Pratt agreed to a $350,000, one-year deal; San Francisco shortstop Rich Aurilia agreed to a $2 million, two-year contract; Toronto right-hander Bill Risley agreed to a $575,000, one-year contract; and Chicago Cubs infielder Manny Alexander agreed to a one-year deal.
Meanwhile, New York Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry withdrew his free-agent filing as part of a complicated process that will end up with him agreeing to a minor league contract.
As a result, if he is not recovered from colon cancer surgery by opening day and starts the season either in the minor leagues or on a minor league disabled list, his $2.5 million salary will not count in the Yankees' payroll, and thus will lower the team's luxury tax bill for 1999. FOOTBALL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - With the Carolina Panthers quickly going from one of the NFL's promising teams to one of its worst, Dom Capers reportedly will be fired at the end of the season.
Owner Jerry Richardson, who has not granted interviews in six months, is not saying if he plans to get rid of the coach whose team played for the NFC title two years ago but is 2-12 this season. Four newspapers, all quoting unidentified sources, reported that Capers will not return.
One coach who definitely won't be back is assistant Kevin Steele, who told the team he's leaving to take the head coaching job at Baylor. Linebacker Kevin Greene attacked Steele on the sideline during Sunday's game, but Steele had interviewed for the Baylor job before the scuffle.
ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves was expected to be released from the hospital today, four days after quadruple bypass surgery.
Reeves, 54, will miss the last two games of the regular season, but expects to return for the playoffs. The Falcons (12-2) can clinch the NFC West title Sunday with a victory over Detroit.
CHICAGO (AP) - Former Northwestern receiver Michael Senters pleaded innocent and denied lying to federal grand juries investigating sports betting at the school.
Senters, was one of four former players charged this month, is accused of lying about a $500 bet he is said to have placed on a 1994 game between Northwestern and Ohio State, a game in which he played. OLYMPICS
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Justice Department is weighing whether it needs to investigate allegations of bribery in the awarding of the 2002 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Salt Lake City officials acknowledged giving a paid internship to the son of an International Olympic Committee member.
Last week, the Salt Lake committee of civic leaders that successfully bid for the 2002 Winter Games said it spent $400,000 on scholarships for 13 student-athletes - six of them relatives of IOC members.
In Washington, Attorney General Janet Reno said the Justice Department's criminal division is considering a formal probe into the allegations. Such reviews are common and fall far short of an actual criminal investigation, which would be undertaken by the U.S. Attorney for Utah. BASKETBALL
NEW YORK (AP) - Commissioner David Stern took his case directly to the players, mailing each of them a nine-page letter outlining the owners' latest collective bargaining proposal.
The letter, complete with charts and graphs, was sent by overnight mail as the opposing sides were deep into another lull in talks. No new negotiations are expected until after Christmas. HOCKEY
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) - The New York Islanders ended a long contract battle with Zigmund Palffy, agreeing to a five-year contract.
Mike Milbury, the team's coach and general manager, confirmed the deal, which is worth about $25 million, including a $1 million signing bonus. The Islanders have an option for a sixth season at $7 million.
Palffy, 26, expected to sign the contract today, had 45 goals and 42 assists in 82 games last season after scoring 48 goals in 1996-97. GOLF
HOUSTON (AP) - Dave Williams, who coached the University of Houston to 16 NCAA championships, died late Wednesday in Wharton. He was 80.
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved.
