Player Development

BaseballCubs: Agreed to minor-league contracts with 1B Scott Stahoviak, P Steve Gajkowski, P Andrew Lorraine, P Scott Watkins, OF Allen Battle and C Alan Zinter; invited them to spring training as nonroster players.Expos: Named Don Reynolds director of player development and Randy Kierce assistant director of international scouting.Mariners: Retained Triple-A Tacoma manager Dave Meyers.Detroit Tigers: Added Derrick Ross, Buddy Paine, Tim Grieve, Pat Murtaugh and Ellis Williams to scouting staff.

Moves Baseball MARINERS: Named Bob Fontaine VP for scouting, Roger Jongewaard VP and special assistant to GM, Benny Looper VP of player development and scouting, Frank Mattox director of player development and Greg Hunter director of minor league operations. MARLINS: Signed OF Gerald Williams to minor league contract; invited him to major league camp. PADRES: Agreed to one-year, $1.85 million contract with P Rod Beck with club option for 2005. Basketball NBA: Fined Mavericks coach Don Nelson $7,500 for publicly criticizing officials.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Fired Ken Macha, third base coach, and Max Oliveras, first base coach.Cleveland Indians -- Retained Dave Nelson, first base coach; Jeff Newman, third base coach; Buddy Bell, infield coach; Luis Isaac, bullpen coach; Charlie Manuel, hitting coach; and Phil Regan, pitching coach.Houston Astros -- Renewed player development contracts for two years with Tucson of the Pacific Coast League, Jackson of the Texas League and Quad City of the Midwest League.Kansas City Royals -- Signed a player development contract for four years with Springfield of the Midwest League.

The trivia question remains as embarrassing as it is telling: Name the last player drafted, developed and deployed by the Orioles long enough to receive 500 at-bats in a major-league season. Hint: The player wears No. 8 and just turned 40. A generation has passed since Cal Ripken Jr. won the 1982 AL Rookie of the Year award. The most dramatic midseason turnover in club history has focused attention on the way in which the Orioles acquire and cultivate talent, a crucial function overshadowed by a long-standing reliance on free agency.

Baseball Indians: Promoted Neal Huntington to assistant GM, John Mirabelli to senior director of scouting operations and Chris Antonetti to director of major-league operations. Named John Farrell director of player development, effective Nov. 1. Mariners: Placed 3B Ed Sprague on 15-day DL. Recalled P Ryan Franklin from Triple-A Tacoma. Marlins: Named Rafael Bournigal director of Latin American development. Rangers: Optioned OF Bo Porter to Triple-A Oklahoma. Reds: Announced that P Scott Winchester will be recalled from Triple-A Louisville today.

BaseballDiamondbacks: Named Jim Presley hitting coach.Mets: Agreed to terms with 3B Craig Paquette on minor-league contract and invited him to major-league camp. Promoted Tom Hutchison to assistant director of player personnel.Rangers: Agreed to minor-league contract with 3B Scott Cooper and invited him to spring training.Reds: Named De Jon Watson director of scouting and Muzzy Jackson director of player development. Promoted Chief Bender senior adviser of major leagues and player development.

As manager Dave Trembley moved closer to finalizing his staff with yesterday's hiring of former Oriole John Shelby to coach first base, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail worked to fortify the Orioles' scouting and minor league departments. MacPhail hired his nephew, Lee MacPhail IV, who has a background in scouting and player development, as a special assistant to the president of baseball operations and named Brian Graham as a special assignment coach for the minor leagues.

The makeup of the new Orioles coaching staff finally became official yesterday, but the arrival of four new coaches represents just another step in an organizational make-over that is far from over.Former Orioles Lee May and Al Bumbry were named to new manager Phil Regan's staff along with former major-league managers Steve Boros and Chuck Cottier. They join Elrod Hendricks, who has been in the Orioles' bullpen for the past 18 years, and Mike Flanagan, who was named pitching coach the day after Regan became manager.