Arizona Signs Lee For $10 Million

The Arizona Diamondbacks, who don’t begin playing until 1998, agreed Friday to the highest contract for an amateur baseball player, signing first baseman Travis Lee to a four-year, $10 million deal.

Lee, 21, was taken by the Minnesota Twins with the second pick in June’s amateur draft, but was declared a free agent Sept. 24 because Minnesota failed to offer him a formal contract within 15 days, as required by baseball rules.

Lee gets $5 million upon signing the contract, $500,000 next June 30, $1 million in 1998, $1.5 million in 1999 and $2 million in 2000. He will also get the minor-league minimum salary of $850 per month.

Before the deal, the highest contract for a college player was the $2 million No. 1 pick Kris Benson got from Pittsburgh earlier this year.

Wallach’s retirement official

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Tim Wallach, who had told teammates he would be retiring, made it official by advising Fred Claire, Dodgers executive vice president, of his decision.

Wallach, 39, was offered a coaching job in the organization but said he wants to get reacquainted with his family before he accepts.

Wallach, who was the college player of the year in 1979 at Cal State Fullerton, was a five-time allstar for the Montreal Expos and three-time Gold Glove winner.

Vizquel has surgery

Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder, the team said.

Vizquel, who played all season with pain in his throwing shoulder, had been diagnosed with frayed cartilage during spring training.

The rotator cuff in Vizquel’s shoulder was unaffected by the surgical procedure.

Stadium plan unveiled

Houston, which rejected Bud Adams’ bid for a new stadium for his Oilers, now has a new option.

The latest came when architects unveiled plans for a $265 million proposed downtown baseball park.

“We want to give the people of Houston the kind of experience they have in Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago,” said Earl Santee, senior vice president for Kansas City architects Helmuth, Obata and Kassabaum.

The retractable roof stadium carries the working title of The Ballpark at Union Station and would give fans a wide open-air view of the downtown Houston skyline a la Cleveland’s Jacobs Field.