Mattingly On Hiatus

Don Mattingly made it official, saying the Yankees should find another first baseman while he contemplates retirement.

A vague statement from Mattingly spokesman Ray Shulte said: “Mattingly was unable to commit at this time to playing major league baseball next year.”

Mattingly’s statement signaled the possible end of an era. The 34-year-old came up to the Yankees for good in 1983, was an All-Star from 1984-89 and has been the team’s captain since the middle of the 1989 season.

The Houston Astros named Rick Sweet first-base coach. Sweet played baseball at Gonzaga University as well as the Spokane Indians and Seattle Mariners. He was manager of the Triple A Tucson Toros.

Center fielder Devon White became the first free agent to switch teams this fall, agreeing to a $9.9 million, three-year contract with the Florida Marlins.

White, who spent the past five seasons with Toronto and turns 33 next month, won his seventh Gold Glove award on Monday. After making $4 million last season, he will get salaries of $3 million, $3.4 million and $3.5 million the next three seasons.

Florida Marlins right fielder Gary Sheffield will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder today to remove excess material from the joint.

The 1992 National League batting champion is expected to resume his offseason conditioning program within a month.