Yankees Bid Goodbye To Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry’s brief career with the New York Yankees ended Thursday when the team declined to exercise a $1.8 million option for next season and paid a $175,000 buyout.

Strawberry, who will be 34 next season, joined the Yankees on Aug. 4 after completing a 60-day suspension for testing positive for cocaine.

Seattle Mariners general manager Woody Woodward and Florida Marlins manager Rene Lachemann have attended some of Strawberry’s games for the Santurce Crabbers in Puerto Rico.

Dodgers sign Gagne

Rebuilding the left side of their infield over a two-day span, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a one-year contract with shortstop Greg Gagne, a deal said to be worth $2.6 million.

The Dodgers acquired third baseman Mike Blowers from Seattle a day earlier.

Dave Van de Walker, a former director for the Dodgers radio-television network, died at Glendale Memorial Hospital, the team said.

No other information was made available on his death.

Van de Walker joined the Dodgers in 1969, working in the radio booth along with Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett.

Van de Walker grew up in Seattle and attended the University of Washington.

Kirby out of options

The Cleveland Indians declined to exercise their $450,000 option for 1997 on outfielder Wayne Kirby.

Kirby, 31, signed an $800,000 two-year contract in spring training with club options for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The Indians had until today to pick up the 1997 option. The failure to pick up the 1997 option also voids a $475,000 option for 1998. He will make $425,000 next season.

Clearing the bases

Rick Dempsey was hired by the Colorado Rockies as an advance scout. … Tim McLeary, who quit as the New York Yankees’ assistant general manager last month, was hired as assistant GM of the Toronto Blue Jays. … Acting commissioner Bud Selig said negotiator Randy Levine is scheduled to meet next week with union head Donald Fehr to discuss the owner’s latest proposal for reaching a new labor agreement.

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