Indians Wheel And Deal

In a remarkable epilogue to one of baseball’s biggest trades, the Cleveland Indians brought Kenny Lofton home on Monday and traded Marquis Grissom to the Milwaukee Brewers.

“It’s like I was a ghost for a year,” a grinning Lofton said, “but now I’m back.”

When Lofton got back to Cleveland, there was a new teammate waiting for him - Dwight Gooden, who signed a two-year contract worth $5,675,000.

The Indians, who made it to the World Series for the second time in three years in 1997 with Lofton in Atlanta, signed their career stolen base leader to a three-year, $24 million deal.

“We feel our club is ready to go for the 1998 season,” general manager John Hart said, asking reporters for a chance to catch his breath between announcements.

The Brewers acquired Grissom and right-hander Jeff Juden for pitchers Ben McDonald, Mike Fetters and Ron Villone. Cleveland immediately turned around and dealt Fetters to Oakland for right-hander Steve Karsay.

Lofton’s agent, Steve Zucker, said Milwaukee offered Lofton, a free agent, a five-year deal worth more than $40 million, but he turned it down. The Indians offered a similar deal for a little less money, but Lofton opted for the shorter contract with all money paid up front.

“We had our sights set on Kenny Lofton, but as that thing progressed it looked like we weren’t going to be able to sign Kenny,” Milwaukee general manager Sal Bando said. “We proceeded to contact Cleveland to see what they were looking for for Marquis Grissom.”

The result was a stunning turnaround in the blockbuster deal struck by Atlanta and Cleveland late in spring training.

Cleveland traded Lofton, 30, and pitcher Alan Embree for Grissom and David Justice on March 25. They were afraid Lofton would sign with another team after the 1997 season. The speedy leadoff hitter had an injury-plagued, sub-par year with Braves, hitting .333 with only 27 steals.

“I’m glad to be back where I belong,” Lofton said. “Everyone knows I belong here. Hopefully I’ll be here for the rest of my career.”

Grissom and Justice led the Indians to the World Series this past season.

Sorrento signs with Devil Rays

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and first baseman Paul Sorrento agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $5 million.

Sorrento, 32, spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. He hit .269 with a career-high 31 home runs and 80 runs batted in during 146 games in 1997. Sorrento has hit 79 homers the past three seasons.

Blue Jays sign two

Toronto added another pair of free agents, agreeing to a $6.15 million, two-year contract with catcher Mike Stanley and a $2.5 million, one-year deal with second baseman Tony Fernandez.

Stanley, 34, split last season between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, hitting .297 with 16 homers and 65 RBIs.

Fernandez, 35, hit .286 in 120 games for Cleveland last season with 11 homers and 44 RBIs.

The Blue Jays didn’t offer salary arbitration to outfielder Joe Carter, probably ending the 1993 World Series hero’s seven-year stay in Toronto.

Toronto also didn’t offer arbitration to outfielder Orlando Merced, infielder Mariano Duncan and catcher Charlie O’Brien.

Vizcaino joins Dodgers

Shortstop Jose Vizcaino, who started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, rejoined the team when he agreed to a $9.5 million, three-year contract.

Vizcaino, 29, hit .266 in a career-high 151 games for the San Francisco Giants last season. He made just 16 errors to rank fifth among shortstops in the N.L. with a .976 fielding average, and committed just one error in his last 40 games.

Elster back with Rangers

Shortstop Kevin Elster signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, returning to the team with which he had his best season.

The 33-year-old Elster batted .225 with seven home runs and 25 runs batted in during 39 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1997 before missing the remainder of the season when he broke his left wrist.

While with the Rangers in 1996, Elster was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year, batting .252 with 24 homers and 99 RBIs in 157 games. His 97 RBIs from the ninth position in the batting order set a major league record.

On your mark, get set …

In their battle with television, the umpires’ decision wasn’t final.

Baseball umpires have been ordered by an arbitrator to use stopwatches between innings to ensure that pitches aren’t thrown before television is back on the air from commercial breaks.

Umpires balked last spring at using the stopwatches to make sure breaks were 2 minutes, 25 seconds during nationally televised Saturday afternoon and Sunday night games and 2:05 for other regular-season games.

The American and National leagues filed a grievance and, for once, baseball owners won.

“This a powerful wakeup call that the umpires work for the leagues and should comply to appropriate direction,” said Robert Kheel, the lawyer who represents the leagues in the dealings with umpires.