Icebreakers

BaseballAthletics: Signed former Orioles P Mike Oquist to minor-league contract.Giants: Claimed P Steve Connelly off waivers from Red Sox.Mariners: Agreed to terms with P Bill Swift on one-year contract.Padres: Named Wilbur Johnson major-league scout.Tigers: Announced that P Bryan Corey has cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Toledo.BasketballGrand Rapids Hoops (CBA): Named Doc Rivers coaching consultant.CollegeAir Force: Named Vic Shealy defensive backs coach and Tim Horton wide receivers coach.

FootballSeahawks: Signed T Tony Berti.HockeyCoyotes: Recalled D Bryan Helmer from IHL Las Vegas.Canucks: Recalled C Matt Cooke from AHL Syracuse.Chesapeake Icebreakers (ECHL): Activated D Eric Linkowski from the injured list.Richmond Renegades (ECHL): Loaned G Maxime Gingras to IHL Orlando.Pub Date: 11/27/98

BaseballExpos: Fired Jim Tracy, bench coach; Jim Benedict, minor-league pitching coordinator and Phil Favia, advance scout. Named Brent Strom minor-league pitching coach, Alex Agostino Canadian supervisor, Mike Berger East Coast supervisor and Dave Dangler area scout.Padres: Named Mike Basso manager, Don Alexander pitching coach, Jim Bowie coach and Jason Haeussinger trainer of Double-A Mobile.Tigers: Named Alan Trammell and Lance Parrish coaches.CollegeBig 12 Conference: Announced that the league has renewed its association with the Holiday Bowl.

For 22 years, until being decommissioned last week at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, the cutter Red Birch was a familiar sight to mariners and those who live along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay.The diminutive vessel and her crew of 31 enlisted men and six officers tended the bay's buoys and unmanned lighthouses.They also helped with search-and-rescue missions and during winter months took on ice-breaking duties to keep the bay's shipping lanes open to navigation.From Hooper's Straits northward to Baltimore, the Red Birch once maintained the largest buoy patrol area in the country.

BaseballBraves: Optioned 1B Randall Simon and P Paul Byrd to Triple-A Richmond. Reassigned C Marcus Hanel, C Fausto Tejero, IF Marty Malloy, IF Ray Holbert and P Rudy Seanez to minor-league camp. Placed P John Smoltz on 15-day DL and P Pedro Borbon on 60-day DL. Purchased contracts of IF Rafael Belliard, P Adam Butler, former Orioles P Dennis Martinez and OF Curtis Pride from Triple-A Richmond.Dodgers: Announced OF Billy Ashley has refused minor-league assignment and opted for free agency.

BaseballBlue Jays: Agreed to terms with IF Ryan Freel and OF Luis Saturria.Mariners: Claimed P Maximo de la Rosa off waivers from Cleveland. Designated P Edwin Hurtado for assignment.Royals: Agreed to terms with P Scott Service, IF Shane Halter, P Jaime Bluma, P Brian Bevil, OF Ryan Long and IF Mendy Lopez on one-year contracts.Yankees: Sent former Oriole P Joe Borowski outright to Triple-A Columbus. Signed P Ricardo Aramboles.Basketball76ers: Activated G Anthony Parker.CollegeAmerica East: Named Towson senior F Ralph Biggs to the third team.

BaseballAngels: Agreed to terms on a one-year contract with P Pep Harris.Marlins: Claimed P Kirt Ojala off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.BasketballNBA: Announced Tom Hammonds of the Minnesota Timberwolves was fined $7,500 by the NBA for a flagrant foul against Orlando's Derek Harper. Announced the resignation of referee Mike Mathis.Celtics: Activated C Pervis Ellison from the injury list.Heat: Signed C Marty Conlon for the rest of the season.Hornets: Activated G Bobby Phills.Kings: Placed G Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf on the injured list with the flu. Activated F Lawrence Funderburke.

BaseballMets: Named Terry Tripp Midwest scouting supervisor.Pirates: Named Marty Brown manager and Jeff Treadway hitting coach for Single-A Augusta.Red Sox: Re-signed P Bret Saberhagen.CollegeAtlantic Central Football Conference: Announced formation of conference with members Salisbury State, Frostburg State, Chowan, Ferrum, Methodist and Wesley.Capital Athletic Conference: Salisbury State junior F Mike Guiffrida was named all-conference first team. Teammates Darren LaRocque, Lou Petrovia, Andrew Rogers and Kyle Eberhardt each made second team.

BaseballBlue Jays: Signed P Dane Johnson to a minor-league contract.Giants: Named Ron Wotus third base coach and Sonny Jackson bench coach.Marlins: Reinstated P Matt Mantei from the 60-day emergency DL.Pirates: Signed a working agreement with Nashville of the PCL.BasketballPacers: Waived C Todd Lindeman. Placed F Austin Croshere, F Derrick McKey and G Haywoode Workman on the injured list.Pistons: Waived F Ashraf Amaya.Wizards: Released C Eric Leckner. Placed C Gheorghe Muresan and G Tim Legler on the injured list.

BasketballAstros: Named Tim Purpura director of minor-league operations.Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A): Announced that Chuck Hinkel has been named director of public relations. Announced that former director of public relations, Joe Castellano, will remain with the team as director of broadcasting, and play-by-play announcer.CollegeTexas: Dismissed CB Anton Hector from the football team for violation of team rules.Texas-Pan American: Announced the resignation of Gary Gallup, athletic director.