World Series MVP Scott Brosius followed Bernie Williams into free agency, filing Tuesday as the New York Yankees awaited word on whether David Cone would exercise his $5.5 million option for 1999.
Brosius, obtained by the Yankees from Oakland last November for Kenny Rogers, made $2.75 million this year, including bonuses.
Cone, who is unlikely to exercise the option, also wants to return but is looking to negotiate an extension, a source said.
At home in McMinnville, Ore., Brosius said he hopes to return to the Yankees next year.
“It’s a great fit,” he said.
Williams is seeking a deal of at least seven years.
Elsewhere, San Diego and first baseman Wally Joyner have agreed on a two-year deal worth about $6.7 million, a source said. The Padres also intend to exercise a $1.9 million on postseason hero Jim Leyritz, another source said.
Infielder Craig Grebeck, who already had filed for free agency, decided to stay with Toronto, agreeing to a $1.35 million, two-year contract.
New York Mets infielder Luis Lopez, who would have been eligible for salary arbitration this winter, agreed on a $1.35 million, two-year contract.
Oakland decided not to exercise a $2.6 million option on third baseman Ed Sprague, electing to pay a $260,000 buyout. Sprague then filed for free agency Tuesday, as did Baltimore outfielder Eric Davis and Minnesota outfielder Otis Nixon.
Gonzalez returning: The Texas Rangers exercised Juan Gonzalez’s 1999 option. Although management’s Player Relations Committee and the players’ association list the option at $7.25 million, the team said the figure is actually $8.5 million because the contract signed in February 1994 was amended a month later.
Gonzalez led the AL in RBIs (157) and doubles (50), hit 45 home runs and batted a career-high .318.
Clemens the best: Roger Clemens regained his status as the top player in baseball, beating out Kevin Brown to finish No. 1 for the first time since 1988 in the annual rankings compiled by the Elias Sports Bureau.
Clemens’ performance the last two seasons gave him a 98.016 score out of 100. Brown got a 96.094, finishing just ahead of Atlanta’s Greg Maddux (95.747) among NL pitchers.
In a surprise, Houston’s Jeff Bagwell tied Mark McGwire as the top NL first baseman. The Cubs’ Sammy Sosa, who hit 66 homers, was ninth among NL outfielders.
In addition to Brown, three other free agents finished first at their positions in the AL: Mo Vaughn at first, Roberto Alomar at second and Bernie Williams in the outfield.
Price increase: The Cleveland Indians, who have routinely sold out home games since moving to Jacobs Field in 1994, said they are raising ticket prices an average of 10 percent for next season. The most expensive seats, field level boxes, will increase to $30 from $26. Prices are unchanged for $6 upper reserved general admission and standing room.
Sign here: President Clinton signed a bill Tuesday overturning part of baseball’s 70-year-old antitrust exemption, putting baseball on a par with other professional sports on labor matters.
The new Curt Flood Act overrides part of a 1922 Supreme Court ruling that exempted baseball from antitrust laws on grounds that it was not interstate commerce. That exemption deprived baseball players of protections enjoyed by other professional athletes and that players’ association blamed for contributing to baseball’s eight work stoppages since 1972,
Morgan eyes A’s: A group of investors including Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan–an Oakland native–is one of several groups considering a bid to purchase the Athletics, who went on sale last week.
