Mariners Bring Back Cora, Hire Contreras As Pitching Coach

The Seattle Mariners are bringing back second baseman Joey Cora and have hired Nardi Contreras as pitching coach for 1997, the team said Thursday.

The 31-year-old Cora signed a one-year contract and will be Seattle’s starting second baseman for the third year in a row.

The 45-year-old Contreras replaces Bobby Cuellar, who was fired after serving two seasons as the Mariners’ pitching coach under manager Lou Piniella.

Contreras spent the past season as a roving pitching instructor for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Mariners also announced they will bring back four other Piniella coaches; bench coach and hitting instructor Lee Elia, third base coach John McLaren, first base coach Sam Mejias and bullpen coach Matt Sinatro.

In Sacramento, Calif., a man shot his two young sons to death, then killed himself as a police dispatcher listened on a 911 emergency line and his wife, the daughter of veteran baseball manager John McNamara, watched.

The youngsters, McNamara’s grandchildren, were identified as Tory Watkins, 6, and his 4-year-old brother Tyler. Their mother, Peggy McNamara Watkins, 40, was not injured, authorities said.

In New York, former major leaguer John D’Acquisto was sentenced to 63 months in prison for trying to pass off a forged $200 million certificate of deposit as collateral on a deal with Prudential Securities Inc.

Travis Lee’s record $10 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks was rejected by baseball officials because part of the signing bonus was to be paid after 1997.

Under Major League Rule 3, the entire signing bonus must be paid by Dec. 31, 1997.

Center fielder Brian McRae agreed to an $11.5 million, three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Outfielder Al Martin’s new threeyear contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates is worth $7.5 million and includes a $200,000 signing bonus.