Francisco Giants

BaseballSan Francisco Giants -- Signed free-agent P Mark Portugal to a three-year contract worth $11 million.HockeyQuebec Nordiques -- Sent D Mike McKee to AHL Cornwall.

World Series MVP Edgar Renteria (above right) appears stung that the Giants cut him. He has told reporters in his native Colombia he would like to finish his career with the Marlins, where he started, or the Cardinals. He could be a fit for the Cardinals, who are looking to upgrade their infield, but is probably looking at an incentive-laden deal after an injury-plagued 2010. … Look for relief pitchers to be among the first free agents to start taking contracts. Kerry Wood and J.J. Putz are among those drawing interest from a lot of teams, including the Cubs.

BaseballPittsburgh Pirates -- Recalled P Dennis Lamp and C Don Slaught from Triple-A Buffalo.San Francisco Giants -- Placed OF Mark Leonard on the 15-day DL. Activated OF Kevin Bass from the 15-day DL.Texas Rangers -- Activated 2B Julio Franco from the 15-day DL. Optioned P Wayne Rosenthal to Triple-A Oklahoma City.Horse racingSportsman's Park (Ill.) -- Suspended trainer Wayne Catalano for 15 days for violating a state medication rule.

The Orioles are the front-runners to sign free-agent starter Russ Ortiz and a deal could happen as early as today, according to industry sources. "We're talking with them," said Ortiz's agent, John Boggs, adding that pitching coach Leo Mazzone carries "a lot of weight" with Ortiz. "I would say at this point, that they are probably the front-runner." The Arizona Diamondbacks released Ortiz last week after a season and a half of ineffectiveness. They still owe him $22 million on the four-year, $33 million deal he signed before last season.

BASEBALL American League* BALTIMORE ORIOLES -- Signed Tim Layana, pitcher, to a contract with Rochester of the International League.* TEXAS RANGERS -- Activated Julio Franco, second baseman, from the 15-day disabled list. Optioned Wayne Rosenthal, pitcher, to Oklahoma City of the American Association.National League* PITTSBURGH PIRATES -- Recalled Dennis Lamp, pitcher, and Don Slaught, catcher, from Buffalo of the American Association.* SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS -- Placed Mark Leonard, outfielder, on the 15-day disabled list.

BaseballMontreal Expos -- Signed IF Jeff Gardner and P Randy Kramer to contracts with Triple-A Ottawa. Invited nonroster P Heath Haynes to spring training.San Diego Padres -- Signed P Trevor Hoffman to a three-year contract. Signed SS Ricky Gutierrez, a former Orioles prospect, to a one-year contract.San Francisco Giants -- Agreed to terms with P Pat Gomez on a minor-league contract.Texas Rangers -- Agreed to terms with 3B Dean Palmer and C Ivan Rodriguez on one-year contracts.BasketballMiami Heat -- Signed F Glen Rice to a five-year contract.

BaseballDetroit Tigers -- Optioned P Mark Grater to Triple-A Toledo. Called up P Kurt Knudsen from Toledo.Florida Marlins -- Signed IF Kevin Elster to a minor-league contract, and assigned him to Triple-A Edmonton.San Francisco Giants -- Placed P Trevor Wilson on the 15-day disabled list. Sent OF Dave Martinez to Triple-A Phoenix for rehabilitation assignment.Texas Rangers -- Announced that C John Russell has cleared waivers and will join the coaching staff as bullpen catcher.FootballKansas City Chiefs -- Signed LB Derrick Thomas to a series of four one-year contracts.

BaseballFlorida Marlins -- Designated P Matt Dunbar for assignment; purchased the contract of OF Tommy Gregg.Kansas City Royals -- Activated OF Phil Hiatt from the 15-day disabled list. Optioned 2B Chris Stynes to Triple-A Omaha. Placed P Tom Browning on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Tim Pittsley from Omaha.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Activated 3B Tim Wallach from the 15-day DL. Optioned IF Eddie Pye to Triple-A Albuquerque.Milwaukee Brewers -- Placed P Michael Ignasiak on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 15. Recalled P Sid Roberson from Triple-A New OrleansPittsburgh Pirates -- Placed OF Jacob Brumfeld on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 19. Recalled 3B John Wehner from Single-A Erie.

BaseballLos Angeles Dodgers -- Signed free-agent OF-IF Cory Snyder (.269, 14 HRs, 57 RBI with the San Francisco Giants). Re-signed free-agent P Roger McDowell (6-10, 4.09). Named Rick Dempsey manager for Single-A Bakersfield. Promoted Tom Beyers, manager at Bakersfield, to third-base coach at Triple-A Albuquerque. Promoted Glenn Gregson, pitching coach at Bakersfield, to pitching coach at Albuquerque.Minnesota Twins -- Traded P David West (1-3, 6.99 ERA) to the Philadelphia Phillies for P Mike Hartley (7-6, 3.44)

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Placed C Andy Allanson on the 15-day disabled list. Recalled C Chris Turner from Triple-A Vancouver.Houston Astros -- Activated former Orioles OF Steve Finley from the DL. Optioned OF Brian Hunter to Triple-A Tucson.Minnesota Twins -- Signed 1994 draft choice SS Cletus Davidson.New York Yankees -- Signed P Greg Harris. Optioned P Sterling Hitchcock to Triple-A Columbus. Released P Sam Militello.San Francisco Giants -- Activated P Mark Portugal from the DL.Optioned P Salomon Torres to Triple-A Phoenix.

SAN FRANCISCO - As long as his knee holds up, Barry Bonds believes there's "a good possibility" he could be taking swings with the San Francisco Giants when the club gets to Los Angeles next week. Bonds, recovering from three operations on his troublesome right knee since Jan. 31, began taking light batting practice this week with no problems. The slugger has been in Los Angeles for the past two months rehabbing his knee under the direction of orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum and physical therapist Clive Brewster.

The Washington Nationals are not only in first place, but also on pace to win nearly 100 games and have the fourth-best record in baseball. Those numbers smack of a runaway contender but for one odd fact - the Nationals have been outscored this season. Baseball history says you just don't win pennants, much less hit the century mark, on a foundation of nail-biting victories. "It's almost impossible to do what they've done," said Rob Neyer, an ESPN.com columnist and co-author of a book about baseball's greatest teams.

A few days ago, I asked Peter Magowan, owner of the San Francisco Giants, if he would consider building a statue in honor of Barry Bonds, the Giants' star left fielder, perhaps the greatest player of his generation. "I would like to think that one day there will be a statue of Barry here, and I think there should be," Magowan said. "He's the best player I've seen play the game since Willie; if you don't acknowledge the best player you ever saw, then why be in the market?" I had spent the first three days of the Giants' new season around SBC Park.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie can hear the scoffs, and he isn't listening. The Orioles, despite all the additions they made this offseason, didn't do enough to address their pitching, critics say. They're all offense now. They've turned themselves into the Texas Rangers. "There are no parallels [between the Orioles and Texas]," Beattie said. "People say that because they don't know the names. They take comfort, generally, in someone that's established, and we couldn't add established players across the board."

SAN FRANCISCO - Anaheim Angels manager Mike Scioscia plotted his strategy through Game 5 of the World Series as if he never had a doubt his team was coming back, blissfully unaware the San Francisco Giants were about to turn in one of the biggest routs in Series history. The Angels have starting pitching concerns, and they faced an early six-run deficit, but Scioscia had seen his team do too much hitting this postseason to alter his best-laid plans. Before long, those decisions didn't look so foolhardy.

Batters...............Avg.........AB.... R....H....2B.....3B......HR....RBI......SB Lunsford.66730210010 Ransom.66732200010 Bonds.370403117149312461109 Kent.313623102195422371085 Torrealba.27913617381002140 Santiago.2784785613324516744 Benard.2761231634921135 Torcato.273110310000 Martinez.27118126491024252 Lofton.2671803048103397 Mueller.26236651961947380 Bell.2615528214429220731 Goodwin.26015423405211716 Aurilia.2575387613835215611 Feliz.2531461437412130 Sanders.25050575126236238518 Snow.

SAN FRANCISCO -- They are not Barry Bonds. There is only one of this species. Only one man on the planet could make opposing managers sweat through hours upon tedious hours of endless second-guessing: What do you do with Barry Bonds? The problem is, no matter what scheme a baseball manager could devise to attempt to thwart the greatest, most dangerous living offensive threat in baseball, the San Francisco Giants turned out to be a force not to be denied. The St. Louis Cardinals found that out last night.