BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore Orioles: Agreed to minor league contract with RHP Rick Helling.
New York Yankees: Promoted Jean Afterman to VP, assistant GM.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Agreed to one year contracts with LHP Hans Smith and OF Josh Hamilton. Named Tom Couston and Joe Murphy midwest regional scouts.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
New York Mets: Agreed to minor league contract with INF Jay Bell.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Agreed to one year contract with 1B Randall Simon.
San Diego Padres: Named Mike Uhlenkamp assistant director, media relations.
NORTHEAST LEAGUE
RAILCATS: Signed RHP Aaron Reid.
BASKETBALL
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
NBA: Fined Miami coach Pat Riley $20,000 for criticizing officials following a Feb. 5. game against Portland. Suspended Orlando Magic F Shawn Kemp, without pay, for violating the terms of the league’s anti-drug program.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Activated G Bimbo Coles from the injured list.
Dallas Mavericks: Activated F Eduardo Najera and C Evan Eschmeyer from the IL. Placed F Popeye Jones and G Avery Johnson on the IL.
FOOTBALL
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
San Francisco 49ers: Named Dennis Erickson coach.
HOCKEY
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Atlanta Thrashers: Placed F Shawn McEachern on injured reserve. Reassigned D Mike Weaver to WOLVES (AHL).
Calgary Flames: Assigned D Mike Mottau to Saint John (AHL).
Carolina Hurricanes: Announced G Arturs Irbe has cleared waivers and been assigned to Lowell (AHL). Recalled G Patrick DesRochers from Lowell.
Los Angeles Kings: Activated C-RW Ian Laperriere from the injured list.
Phoenix Coyotes: Sent D Martin Grenier to Springfield (AHL).
COLLEGE
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association: Southwest Baptist F Arthur Trousdell has been declared ineligible for the basketball team and the school will forfeit eight wins.
Carthage: Named Susie McCreery women’s assistant soccer coach.
LETTER OF INTENT
SOFTBALL
Kankakee CC: Jessie Schay, P-INF-Olympia; Jamie McCreery, OF, Reed-Custer.
