A’S Cut Former Cy Young Winner

Even after agreeing to a huge pay cut and signing a minor-league contract, Bob Welch was unable to stay with the Oakland Athletics.

Welch, who won the 1990 A.L. Cy Young Award with a 27-6 record, was released late Sunday night by the A’s as part of a series of moves that trimmed the roster to the opening-day limit of 28.

Welch, 38, made 20 or more starts each year for the A’s from 1988-93 but only eight in the strikeshortened 1994 season. He made $2.9 million last year, but agreed to a minor-league contract this spring that would have paid him $225,000 if he made the A’s roster.

Blue Jays re-sign reliever, avoid arbitration

Reliever Tony Castillo and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to twoyear contract worth $1,270,500.

The 32-year-old native of Lara, Venezuela, was 5-2 with a 2.51 ERA last season. The left-hander appeared in a team-high 41 games, all in relief.

Third baseman Ed Sprague and pitcher Al Leiter are Toronto’s lone remaining unsigned players. Both are eligible for arbitration.

Orioles consider Dibble

Right-handed reliever Rob Dibble, who apparently isn’t going to make the opening-day roster of the Chicago White Sox, is being shopped by general manager Ron Schueler. The possibility of trading for Dibble has been discussed within the Baltimore Orioles’ organization, and he wouldn’t cost them much.

According to a baseball source, the White Sox would dump Dibble for about $50,000.

Owners receive hearing date

Baseball owners received a May 11 hearing date in their attempt to overturn the injunction that caused players to end their 7-month strike.

The owners have only a slim chance of success before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, given the skepticism expressed by a three-judge panel this month when the appellate court denied management’s attempt to stay the injunction.

The teams claim U.S. District Judge Sonia Sotomayor erred when she issued the injunction on March 31.

Replacement umps likely for openers

Major league baseball appears headed for opening day with replacement umpires after no progress in negotiations with the locked-out regulars.

Given that in 1991 the sides settled just a few hours before the first pitch, there is still a chance for a late agreement before tonight’s seasonopener, but management negotiator Robert Kheel and union head Richie Phillips aren’t optimistic.

“It’s with regret that we can’t make a deal,” Kheel said. “We would rather have the disruption at the present time, however unattractive that may be, rather than at a time of the association’s choosing.”

Injury report

Three-time All-Star Sandy Alomar returned to Cleveland to have his ailing knee examined, and Indians general manager John Hart said the catcher probably would miss the first week of the season… . St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Todd Zeile was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed tendon in his left hand… . Colorado Rockies right-hander David Nied has a strained muscle in his elbow, but no ligament damage, and is scheduled to be re-examined today… . The Detroit Tigers placed shortstop Alan Trammell on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled left hamstring.