Class Aaa

Peter Kirk will be staying within arm's reach of a telephone today and, if necessary, tomorrow.Kirk, Maryland's minor-league baseball impresario, is waiting for the call that will tell him whether his bid to locate a Class AAA team in the Annapolis area still is alive.Kirk, who leads Maryland Baseball Partnership Limited, which owns the state's minor-league franchises in Hagerstown and Frederick, is among the bidders for Class AAA teams that will be created when the National League expands by two teams in 1993.

Greg Smith isn't sure where the latest turn in his baseball career will take him. But he's hoping this road will be smoother than the onehe's been on for the last year.Smith, 24, a graduate of Glenelg High School, signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, leaving what was once believed to be a promising future with the Los Angeles Dodgers."It's kind of funny. I went from Dodgertown to Tigertown," Smith said. "I've only been here a day and a half. But so far, I like the organization.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The 1985 world championship ring from Steve Balboni's days with the Kansas City Royals was left behind at his Lee's Summit, Mo., home. Too flashy for daily wear, said Balboni, and too dear to be hidden away in the Oklahoma City hotel room that has become his home for the summer. It is a part of the past.The present has taken an unpleasant turn down memory lane for Balboni, whose big-league resume shows 181 home runs, including a Royals record 36 in that championship season.

Greg Smith isn't sure where the latest turn in his baseball career will take him. But he's hoping this road will be smoother than the onehe's been on for the last year.Smith, a 24-year-old Sykesville native, signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, leaving behind what was once believed to be a promising future with the Los Angeles Dodgers."It's kind of funny. I went from Dodgertown to Tigertown," Smith said. "I've only been here a day and a half. But so far, I like the organization.

Baseball Atlanta Braves -- Placed OF Tommy Gregg on 15-day disabled list. Activated OF Lonnie Smith from 15-day DL.New York Mets -- Named Dallas Green special assignment scout.San Diego Padres -- Placed P Greg Harris on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 23. Recalled P Derek Lilliquist from Class AAA Las Vegas.San Francisco Giants -- Sent P Trevor Wilson to Class AAA Phoenix. Assigned OF Rick Parker to Phoenix for injury rehabilitation.Texas Rangers -- Sent IF Gary Green and IF Denny Walling (0-for-7)

BaseballBaltimore Orioles -- Recalled OF Brady Anderson from Class AAA Rochester. Activated P Mark Williamson from 15-day DL.Cincinnati Reds -- Activated P Chris Hammonds from the 30-day DL. Called up C Donnie Scott from Class AAA Nashville.Chicago White Sox -- Recalled P Roberto Hernandez from Class AA Birmingham. Optioned P Brian Drahman to Class AAA Vancouver.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Recalled P Dennis Cook, P John Wetteland, C Carlos Hernandez, 1B Eric Karros, OF Tom Goodwin from Class AAA Albuquerque.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Optioned P Jeff Parrett (0-2, 6.64 ERA) to Class AAA Richmond. Recalled OF Tommy Gregg from Richmond.Chicago Cubs -- Placed P Rick Sutcliffe (2-4, 6.75) on 15-day DL. Activated P Danny Jackson.Montreal Expos -- Suspended C Nelson Santovenia without pay for failing to report to Class AAA Indianapolis.Oakland Athletics -- Sent P Eric Show (0-0, 16.39) outright to Class AAA Tacoma.Philadelphia Phillies -- Placed IF Randy Ready (.303, 9 RBI) on 15-day DL with strained right side.

Baseball Cleveland Indians -- Put OF Alex Cole (strained abdominal muscle; .309 in 55 AB) on 15-day DL. Called up P Efrain Valdez (2-0, 3.57 ERA in 9 games) from Class AAA Colorado Springs.Houston Astros -- Placed 2B Mark McLemore (.148 in 61 AB) on 15-day DL, retroactive to Thursday. Recalled OF Gerald Young from Class AAA Tucson.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Placed SS Alfredo Griffin (.228 in 24 games; injured big toe on left foot moving furniture) on 15-day DL. Recalled SS Jose Offerman (.375 in 20 games)

Baseball Boston Red Sox -- Placed P Tom Bolton on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Daryl Irvine from Class AAA Pawtucket.Chicago White Sox -- Recalled P Jeff Carter from Class AAA Vancouver. Optioned P Greg Hibbard (7-8, 4.31 ERA) to Vancouver.Texas Rangers -- Activated P Brad Arnsberg from the 60-day DL. Optioned P Gerald Alexander to Class AAA Oklahoma City.Football Chicago Bears -- Signed T Keith Van Horne and RB Brad Muster to two-year contracts.Indianapolis Colts -- Waived WR Terence Barber.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Placed C Lance Parrish on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 10. Recalled P Mike Fetters and C John Orton from Class AAA Edmonton.Minnesota Twins -- Activated C Junior Ortiz from the 15-day DL. Optioned C Lenny Webster (.267 in 15 AB) to Class AAAPortland.New York Mets -- Placed OF Vince Coleman (strained hamstring) on the 15-day DL retroactive to Saturday. Activated IF-OF Keith Miller from the 15-day DL.New York Yankees -- Called up IF Carlos Rodriguez (.289 at Class AAA Columbus)

Anne Arundel County is being considered as a home for a minor-leaguebaseball franchise.The owners of two minor-league baseball teamsmet for an hour yesterday with County Executive Robert R. Neall and his staff to discuss the possibility of building a 10,000-seat stadium.Peter M. Kirk, chairman of the owners group, Maryland Baseball, said that he hopes to build a stadium big enough for a Class AAA team in Anne Arundel or Prince George's County. The stadium would be home to a Class AA team initially and then a Class AAA team if he wins an expansion franchise, he said.

The Orioles today traded third baseman Craig Worthington and minor-league pitcher Tom Martin to the San Diego Padres for two minor leaguers, pitcher Jim Lewis and outfielder Steve Martin.Worthington, who was named Rookie Player of the Year by The Sporting News after a 1989 performance that included 15 home runs and 70 RBI, had slipped out of favor after a lackluster performance in 1990. He opened 1991 on the major league roster, but spent most of the season with the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings rehabilitating a hamstring strain.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Agreed to terms with OF Ron Gant on a one-year contract.Baltimore Orioles -- Agreed to terms with IF Manny Alexander and IF Ricky Gutierrez on one-year contracts.Cincinnati Reds -- Agreed to terms with P Tim Layana on a one-year contract.Houston Astros -- Agreed to terms with P Mark Portugal on a one-year contract.Kansas City Royals -- Agreed to terms with P Tom Gordon and C Mike Macfarlane on one-year contracts.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Signed P Jim Neidlinger to a contract with Class AAA Albuquerque.

Pitcher Darrel Akerfelds has signed a Class AAA contract with the Baltimore Orioles' Rochester, N.Y., affiliate, the Orioles announced yesterday. Terms were not disclosed.Akerfelds, 30, a right-hander who had a 2-1 record and a 5.26 ERA in 30 games with the Philadelphia Phillies last year, will report to spring training with the Red Wings, but will get an opportunity to make the parent club."We feel he's got a chance to come up and help us," said Orioles general manager Roland Hemond last night.

Dave Johnson, who was dropped from the Baltimore Orioles' roster two months ago, has agreed to a one-year contract with the California Angels.The deciding factor for Johnson, 32, was not having to sign a minor-league contract."

Jeff Robinson, who was 4-9 with a 5.18 ERA with the Baltimore Orioles last season, signed a Class AAA contract with the Texas Rangers yesterday.Robinson, 30, was released Nov. 18. He had been acquired for catcher Mickey Tettleton the previous winter.Robinson started the 1991 season in the rotation, but won only one game in his last 11 starts and was optioned to the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings on July 30 in the pitching shake-up that brought Mike Mussina to the majors.Robinson failed to finish the fifth inning eight times in 19 starts.

BaseballNational Association of Professional Baseball Leagues -- Elected Peter Kirk, chairman of the board of the Maryland Baseball Limited Partnership, to a 3-year term on the executive committee.Cincinnati Reds -- Purchased the contract of C Troy Afenir from Class AAA Nashville. Placed OF Chris Jones (.292, 2 HRs, 6 RBI) on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Named Cal Emery scout.Colorado Rockies -- Named Jorge Luis de Posada scouting supervisor in Puerto Rico.

Baltimore Orioles manager John Oates said last night that he would be comfortable entering next season with Chris Hoiles and Jeff Tackett as his two catchers.But Oates would like to acquire another catcher to work at the Class AAA level in case those two don't work out."We don't have a lot of depth in our organization," he said. "We may have to look for another guy."The situation was created late Wednesday night when the Orioles traded Bob Melvin to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Storm Davis, leaving Hoiles the top receiver entering spring training.