BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Phillies Sign Fernandez as a Starter

The Philadelphia Phillies signed veteran left-hander Sid Fernandez to step into their starting rotation.

Fernandez will replace injured left-hander David West and might start Sunday at Montreal, said team spokesman Larry Shenk.

Fernandez, who cleared waivers, was 0-4 with a 7.39 earned run average in eight appearances with Baltimore, including seven starts.

Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi said Fernandez was ready to pitch--and hit.

“Sid said he wants to come back to the National League,” Fregosi said. “He likes to swing the bat.”

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The New York Yankees changed pitching coaches for the 36th time since George Steinbrenner took control of the team, reassigning Billy Connors and promoting Nardi Contreras.

Connors, a member of the American League coaching staff at the All-Star game, was reassigned to the team’s minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. The 53-year-old had been the pitching coach since 1994, when he began his second tour with the club. He also was pitching coach in 1989-90.

Contreras was the Yankees’ roving minor league pitching instructor. He becomes the team’s 17th different pitching coach since 1973.

Contreras, whose only major league playing experience was an eight-game stint with the Chicago White Sox in 1980, has been a minor league instructor for 13 years and joined the Yankees organization in 1994 as pitching coach for the the club’s triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.

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Deion Sanders is ready to return to the Cincinnati Reds, but his sprained left ankle isn’t. Sanders, who has not played in six weeks, said he will rejoin the team in Chicago today, but may not play for another week after a two-game rehabilitation stint with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Reds’ double-A affiliate. . . . Second baseman Jose Lind was put on waivers by the Kansas City Royals. Lind, 31, was put on the disqualified list June 4, two days after he failed to show up for a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Lind claimed he was depressed after his wife filed for divorce. . . . The Baltimore Orioles activated third baseman Jeff Manto (strained hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list, and Manager Phil Regan said he will probably start today against the Kansas City Royals.