Vince Coleman

BASEBALLAmerican League * Detroit Tigers -- Signed Tony Bernazard (infielder) to a one-year contract. Released Mike Schwabe (pitcher).* Milwaukee Brewers -- Agreed to terms with Teddy Higuera (pitcher) on a four-year contract. Signed Franklin Stubbs (infielder-outfielder) to a three-year contract.* Toronto Blue Jays -- Signed Pat Tabler (designated hitter) to a two-year contract. Agreed to terms with Ravelo Manzanillo (pitcher) and assigned him to Syracuse of the International League.National LeagueAtlanta Braves -- Signed Sid Bream (first baseman)

BaseballBlue Jays: Signed SS-OF Ryan Stromsborg.Padres: Traded C Brad Ausmus, SS Andujar Cedeno and P Russ Spear to Detroit for C John Flaherty and SS Chris Gomez.Phillies: Signed P Evan Thomas.Pirates: Optioned P Esteban Loaiza to Triple-A Calgary. Recalled P Steve Cooke from Double-A Carolina. Calgary placed C Angelo Encarnacion on DL. and activated IF Dale Sveum from DL.Reds: Requested waivers on OF Vince Coleman for purpose of giving him unconditional release. Signed OF John Oliver, their first-round draft pick; assigned him to Rookie-level Princeton.

The Boston Red Sox acquired veteran pitcher Dan Petry from the Atlanta Braves yesterday for a minor-league player to be named.The right-hander was 0-0 with a 5.55 ERA with the Braves. He was traded to Atlanta on June 25 by the Detroit Tigers for shortstop Victor Rosario. With Detroit this season, he was 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 17 games, including six starts."Getting Petry gives us some experience in the bullpen," Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman said. "We feel Petry knows the league very well, and he should help shore up things there."

GAMES FACTSGates open: NoonBatting practice: Orioles, 12:45 p.m.; Kansas City, 1:45 p.m.Pre-game ceremonies: 2:38 p.m.Ceremonial First pitch: Gov. William Donald SchaeferFirst pitch: 3:05 p.m.National anthem: Michael Harrison, general director of Baltimore Opera CompanyTickets: Sold outPromotion: 40th anniversary fan bandanna, courtesy of The Baltimore SunWeather: Sunny, highs in the low 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.TV: Channel 13, 2 p.m.Radio: WBAL (1090...

A strike would cut short some big individual performances. Here's a look at what some players are on pace to accomplish over a full season, not including Houston's Jeff Bagwell (39 homers, 116 RBIs, 104 runs), who broke his left hand Wednesday night:HOME RUNSAmerican LeaguePlayer, Team ...... 8/11 ... Proj.Ken Griffey, Sea ... 40 ..... 58Frank Thomas, Chi .. 38 ..... 54Albert Belle, Cle .. 36 ..... 52National LeaguePlayer, Team ...... 8/11 .... Proj.Matt Williams, SF .. 43 ...... 61Barry Bonds, SF .... 37 .....

The Los Angeles district attorney's office said late yesterday that it expected to make a formal criminal charge as a result of Saturday's firecracker incident outside Dodger Stadium.New York Mets outfielder Vince Coleman has been identified by another player as the person who threw a lighted firecracker from a vehicle, an action that apparently resulted in injuries to at least three persons.The district attorney met with officials of the Los Angeles Fire Department's arson unit yesterday, which has been investigating the incident.

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets, discarding remnants of the woeful 1993 season like so many bad memories, traded outfielder Vince Coleman to the Kansas City Royals yesterday.In return, the Mets reacquired another enigmatic outfielder, Kevin McReynolds, who roamed Shea Stadium for five years before being traded to the Royals after 1991.That the Mets were required to bring back McReynolds in what was the only deal for Coleman offered by any team did not cause the team to issue any apologies or excuses.

LOS ANGELES -- New York Mets outfielder Vince Coleman threw a firecracker from a parked car at Dodger Stadium Saturday, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating whether the incident was related to injuries reported by three fans who had attended the game.Los Angeles outfielder Eric Davis said Coleman was sitting in Davis' Jeep after the Dodgers' 5-4 victory Saturday when he threw the firecracker.A 33-year-old woman, an 11-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl were treated for injuries at local hospitals, according to Jim Wells, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Leyland tested for chest painsPittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Leyland was taken to a Columbus, Ohio, hospital last night after complaining of chest pains while flying from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, an airline spokesman said."

The San Diego Padres put third baseman Craig Worthington, who lost his shot at a starting job when Gary Sheffield was obtained from the Milwaukee Brewers last week, on unconditional release waivers yesterday.Worthington, obtained in an off-season trade with the Orioles for pitcher Jim Lewis and outfielder Steve Martin, was signed for $235,000. San Diego will instead give him $58,104 in termination pay, if he is not claimed by Friday.Since the acquisition of Sheffield, general manager Joe McIlvaine had tried to trade Worthington.