Triple A Contract

Dave Johnson's seemingly endless struggle to pitch in the major leagues received another setback yesterday when the California Angels requested waivers on the former Orioles right-hander for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release."

Baseball Angels: Purchased contracts of IF Benji Gil and former Orioles P Kent Mercker. Released P Tom Candiotti from Triple-A contract. Blue Jays: Optioned P Clayton Andrews to Triple-A Syracuse. Purchased contract of P Frank Castillo. Braves: Optioned P Ismael Villegas and OF George Lombard to Triple-A Richmond and P Jason Marquis to Double-A Greenville. Reassigned 1B-OF Brian Hunter, IF Steve Sisco, C Jeff Horn and C Toby Rumfield to Richmond. Placed P Rudy Seanez, P David Cortes, P Odalis Perez and P John Smoltz on 15-day DL. Purchased contracts of P Greg McMichael, OF Trenidad Hubbard and former Orioles OF Bobby Bonilla.

Third baseman Leo Gomez and second baseman Bret Barberie, who opened the 1995 season as half of the Orioles' starting infield, agreed to minor-league contracts with the Chicago Cubs yesterday and were invited to major-league spring training camp.Gomez, 29, batted .236 with four home runs and 12 RBIs during a disappointing season in which he lost his place in the starting lineup to journeyman Jeff Manto in May and suffered a season-ending ankle injury in August. The Orioles toyed with the idea of signing him to a Triple-A contract this off-season, but the acquisition of free agent B. J. Surhoff left little room for him on the major-league roster.

Baseball Brewers: Agreed to $1,625,000, two-year contract with P Juan Acevedo (6-8, 5.89 ERA with Cardinals) and one-year contract with P Matt Williams. Indians: Agreed to one-year contracts with P Sean DePaula (4.63 ERA in 11 2/3 IP), P Tom Martin (8.68 ERA in 9 1/3 IP) and P Jim Brower (3-1, 4.56 ERA in 25 2/3 IP). Named Mario Diaz hitting coach for Triple-A Buffalo. Mets: Agreed to $462,500, one-year contract with OF Matt Franco (major-league-record 19 walks as pinch hitter), avoiding arbitration.

BaseballCardinals: Signed P Andy Benes to two-year contract with option for 1998 and OF Ron Gant to five-year contract.Orioles: Signed 2B Bill Ripken to Triple-A contract.Twins: Agreed to terms with 3B Dave Hollins on one-year contract.BasketballHornets: Placed G Khalid Reeves on injured list with sprained left ankle. Signed G Corey Beck.76ers: Released F Trevor Wilson. Activated F Richard Dumas from injured list.Spurs: Placed G Dell Demps on injured list with back spasms. Activated F Brad Lohaus from injured list.

Baseball Cleveland Indians -- Traded OF Alex Cole to the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Tony Mitchell and P John Carter. Recalled 1B Reggie Jefferson from a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Colorado Springs.Detroit Tigers -- Signed OF Gary Pettis to a Triple-A contract.Kansas City Royals -- Placed P Mike Magnante on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 2. Called up P Steve Shifflett from Triple-A Omaha. Transferred P Luis Aquino from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Placed IF Dave Anderson on the 15-day DL and recalled 1B/OF Henry Rodriguez from Triple-A Albuquerque.

BaseballAstros: Signed IF Ricky Gutierrez and P Mark Small to one-year contracts.Brewers: Agreed to two-year contract with P Bob Wickman.Expos: Signed free-agent P Jim Bullinger.Padres: P Sterling Hitchcock agreed to two-year contract.Phillies: Agreed to terms with P Rich Hunter and SS Desi Relaford. Agreed to Triple-A contract with P Tim Fortugno and invited him to major-league camp.Rangers: Signed P Ed Vosberg to $450,000, one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration. Agreed to terms with IF Mike Bell and OF Marc Sagmoen.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ever since 1983, when he broke in with the Oakland Athletics, Bill Krueger has been a baseball mystery.He has logged more than seven years of major-league service over that period -- but only once (1991) did he spend an entire year on an active roster. It's also the only time he's pitched more than 151 innings (175) at the highest level.Krueger's left-handedness has both intrigued and baffled the four teams for which he has played as well as numerous others who have had interest, including the Orioles.

BaseballBraves: Placed P Mike Remlinger (strained latissimus muscle on left side) on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 3. Recalled P Derrin Ebert from Triple-A Richmond.Indians: Signed P Chris Haney to minor-league contract.Marlins: Triple-A Calgary signed OF Danny Bautista.Padres: Purchased contract of P Roberto Rivera from Triple-A Las Vegas. Designated IF Ed Giovanola for assignment.Rangers: IF Tom Evans cleared waivers and was signed to Triple-A contract.Reds: Agreed to minor-league contract with P A. J. Sager.

BaseballNational League -- Suspended Pittsburgh Pirates P Blas Minor and OF Al Martin and Chicago Cubs P Bob Scanlan for seven games and fined them an undisclosed amount for their roles in an altercation Monday. Suspended Cubs P Shawn Boskie for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for his role in the altercations.Cleveland Indians -- Exercised their option on manager Mike Hargrove for the 1994 season. Purchased the contract of P Julian Tavarez from Double-A Canton-Akron.Oakland Athletics -- Acquired minor-league OF Jose Herrera of Single-A Hagerstown as the player to be named in the trade that sent OF Rickey Henderson to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league P Steve Karsay last Saturday.

BaseballBraves: Placed P Mike Remlinger (strained latissimus muscle on left side) on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 3. Recalled P Derrin Ebert from Triple-A Richmond.Indians: Signed P Chris Haney to minor-league contract.Marlins: Triple-A Calgary signed OF Danny Bautista.Padres: Purchased contract of P Roberto Rivera from Triple-A Las Vegas. Designated IF Ed Giovanola for assignment.Rangers: IF Tom Evans cleared waivers and was signed to Triple-A contract.Reds: Agreed to minor-league contract with P A. J. Sager.

BaseballAstros: Signed IF Ricky Gutierrez and P Mark Small to one-year contracts.Brewers: Agreed to two-year contract with P Bob Wickman.Expos: Signed free-agent P Jim Bullinger.Padres: P Sterling Hitchcock agreed to two-year contract.Phillies: Agreed to terms with P Rich Hunter and SS Desi Relaford. Agreed to Triple-A contract with P Tim Fortugno and invited him to major-league camp.Rangers: Signed P Ed Vosberg to $450,000, one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration. Agreed to terms with IF Mike Bell and OF Marc Sagmoen.

Third baseman Leo Gomez and second baseman Bret Barberie, who opened the 1995 season as half of the Orioles' starting infield, agreed to minor-league contracts with the Chicago Cubs yesterday and were invited to major-league spring training camp.Gomez, 29, batted .236 with four home runs and 12 RBIs during a disappointing season in which he lost his place in the starting lineup to journeyman Jeff Manto in May and suffered a season-ending ankle injury in August. The Orioles toyed with the idea of signing him to a Triple-A contract this off-season, but the acquisition of free agent B. J. Surhoff left little room for him on the major-league roster.

BaseballCardinals: Signed P Andy Benes to two-year contract with option for 1998 and OF Ron Gant to five-year contract.Orioles: Signed 2B Bill Ripken to Triple-A contract.Rangers: Re-signed free-agent P Bobby Witt to one-year contract with option for 1997.Twins: Agreed to terms with 3B Dave Hollins on one-year contract.BasketballHornets: Placed G Khalid Reeves on injured list with sprained left ankle. Signed G Corey Beck.76ers: Released F Trevor Wilson. Activated F Richard Dumas from injured list.

BaseballAL -- Announced the retirement of Dick Butler, special assistant to the league president. Butler, 84, was a baseball executive for 49 years.Atlanta Braves -- Agreed to terms with OF Ryan Klesko, C Javier Lopez and P Greg McMichael on one-year contracts. Renewed the contracts of P Mark Wohlers and P Terrell Wade.Orioles -- Optioned 1B Paul Carey, OF Alex Ochoa, P Rick Krivda and P Jimmy Haynes to Triple-A Rochester.Boston Red Sox -- Sent P Gar Finnvold, P Joe Hudson, P Brian Looney, P Keith Shepherd, P Mike Sullivan, P Bill Wertz, IF Bill Selby, OF Pat Lennon, OF Jose Malave, OF Glenn Murray and OF Benji Simonton to minor-league camp for reassignment.

The Orioles' front office continues to forge ahead with a wide-ranging improvement program, though the club probably won't be able to top the acquisitions of free agents Sid Fernandez and Rafael Palmeiro.Two more free-agent contracts were finalized yesterday. Right-handed reliever Mark Eichhorn and veteran catcher Rich Gedman agreed to minor-league contracts and will report to spring training with the major-league team.Eichhorn, 33, is a nine-year veteran who has pitched for three major-league clubs, most recently with the two-time world champion Toronto Blue Jays.

Baseball Brewers: Agreed to $1,625,000, two-year contract with P Juan Acevedo (6-8, 5.89 ERA with Cardinals) and one-year contract with P Matt Williams. Indians: Agreed to one-year contracts with P Sean DePaula (4.63 ERA in 11 2/3 IP), P Tom Martin (8.68 ERA in 9 1/3 IP) and P Jim Brower (3-1, 4.56 ERA in 25 2/3 IP). Named Mario Diaz hitting coach for Triple-A Buffalo. Mets: Agreed to $462,500, one-year contract with OF Matt Franco (major-league-record 19 walks as pinch hitter), avoiding arbitration.

BaseballNational League -- Suspended Pittsburgh Pirates P Blas Minor and OF Al Martin and Chicago Cubs P Bob Scanlan for seven games and fined them an undisclosed amount for their roles in an altercation Monday. Suspended Cubs P Shawn Boskie for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for his role in the altercations.Cleveland Indians -- Exercised their option on manager Mike Hargrove for the 1994 season. Purchased the contract of P Julian Tavarez from Double-A Canton-Akron.Oakland Athletics -- Acquired minor-league OF Jose Herrera of Single-A Hagerstown as the player to be named in the trade that sent OF Rickey Henderson to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league P Steve Karsay last Saturday.