Oakland Athletics

Boston Red Sox -- Signed OF Corey Jenkins and assigned him to their minor-league complex in Fort Myers, Fla.Colorado Rockies -- Agreed to terms with P Todd Helton and assigned him to Single-A Asheville.Florida Marlins -- Agreed to terms with 1B Nate Rolison and assigned him to the Rookie-level Marlins.Houston Astros -- Recalled OF James Mouton from rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Tucson.Kansas City Royals -- Activated OF Chris James from the DL. Optioned OF Les Norman to Triple-A Omaha.

BaseballNew York Yankees -- Optioned IF Russ Davis to Triple-A Columbus. Recalled P Andy Pettitte from Columbus.Oakland Athletics -- Activated IF Mike Bordick from the 15-day DL. Optioned IF Fausto Cruz to Triple-A Edmonton.Seattle Mariners -- Placed OF Ken Griffey on the 15-day DL. Recalled OF Marc Newfield from Triple-A Tacoma.FootballSan Antonio Texans (CFL) -- Signed FB Kaio Aumua, LB Mike Rogers, WR Jerry Reese and OL Darrin Muilenburg

BaseballOrioles -- Traded P Scott Emerson to the Boston Red Sox for 1B Jayson Friedman and P Jeff Faino and assigned both to Double-A Bowie.Chicago White Sox -- Assigned P Mike Bertotti to Double-A Birmingham for extended spring training.Cleveland Indians -- Traded OF Tony Mitchell and C Mitch Melusky to the Houston Astros for P Jim Lewis and OF Buck McNabb.Florida Marlins -- Obtained the contract of P Aaron Small from the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named. Optioned Small to Triple-A Charlotte.

Orioles -- Optioned P William Percibal to Single-A High Desert. Optioned OF Mark Smith to Triple-A Rochester. Returned P Russell Brock, a Rule V draftee, to the Oakland Athletics.California Angels -- Agreed to terms with P Russ Springer, P Andrew Lorraine, P Phil Leftwich, P Brian Anderson, P Mike Butcher, P Troy Percival, C Jorge Fabregas, C Chris Turner and C Mark Dalesandro. Optioned P Mark Holzemer and P Erik Bennett to Triple-A Vancouver.Cincinnati Reds -- Placed P Mike Jackson on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder problems.

Auto racingTeam Menard -- Named Arie Luyendyk driver for the Indianapolis 500; he won the 1990 race.BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Released P Bryan Smith, P Richard Doyle and P Elvin Rivera. Reassigned P Steve Renko Jr., P Ken Valdez, P Brian Willard, IF Kevin Davis and OF Earl Cunningham to minor-league camp.Cincinnati Reds -- Released P Tony Mosley. Signed IF Jeremy Herider to a minor-league contract. Signed P Allen Collins.Kansas City Royals -- Released IF Sean Collins, IF Ramon Hernandez, IF Jim McDonald, OF Bert Hunter, C Paul Williams, P Rene Quinones and P Mike Tidwell.

The Sun's national baseball writer, Peter Schmuck, ranks the major leagues' 28 teams.Rank, Team, Previous Rank, comment1. New York Yankees, 3, Might even be good enough to make up for Mets.2. Montreal Expos, 4, Solid pitching staff has only one guy with a losing record.3. Atlanta Braves, 1, If starters keep going south, Braves will go with them.4. Cincinnati Reds, 5, Ohio gearing up for possible freeway series.5. Cleveland Indians, 2, Too good not to be true.6. Baltimore Orioles, 8, The way Yanks are playing, O's just thankful for extra playoff tier.

How low is low? The once-formidable Toronto Blue Jays lineup looks so toothless that there is room to wonder if the impending return of relief closer Duane Ward will make any difference. He'll certainly shore up a bullpen that has been surrendering too many runs in the late innings, but the Jays need to add another front-line starting pitcher, and the realities of realignment may make that impossible. Only in the six-division format could a team that is 16 games under .500 (the Oakland Athletics)

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Signed OF Jayson Buss and assigned him to West Palm Beach (Rookie).Cleveland Indians -- Recalled P Jerry DiPoto from Triple-A Charlotte. Placed P Steve Farr on the 15-day disabled list.New York Yankees -- Placed 2B Pat Kelly on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 22. Recalled IF Dave Silvestri from Triple-A Columbus.Oakland Athletics -- Placed P John Briscoe on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Roger Smithberg from Triple-A Tacoma.San Francisco Giants -- Activated 2B Robby Thompson from the DL. Sent 1B J. R. Phillips to Triple-A Phoenix.

BaseballOakland Athletics -- Activated 1B Mark McGwire from the 15-day DL. Optioned C Scott Hemond to Triple-A Tacoma.New York Mets -- Signed P Bill Santamaria and OF-1B Terrence Long.San Diego Padres -- Signed P Dustin Hermanson. Recalled P Mike Campbell from Triple-A Las Vegas. Designated IF Keith Lockhart for assignment.FootballMinnesota Vikings -- Signed DE Roy Barker and DE James Harris, S Lamar McGriggs, DT Esera Tuaolo, CB Harlan Davis and TE Andrew Jordan. Waived WR Ronnie West.New Orleans Saints -- Agreed to terms with WR Eric Martin on a one-year contract.

BaseballAL -- Upheld a three-game suspension of Toronto manager Cito Gaston for making contact with umpire Rick Reed and disorderly behavior during a game April 15.Florida Marlins -- Activated 1B Greg Colbrunn from the 15-day disabled list.Houston Astros -- Placed P Pete Harnisch on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 23. Recalled P Brian Williams from Triple-A Tucson.Minnesota Twins -- Activated 1B Kent Hrbek from the 15-day disabled list.Montreal Expos -- Optioned P Denis Boucher to Triple-A Ottawa.