BASEBALL NOTES

Andy Benes terminated his contract with Arizona and became a free agent, and John Olerud, Kenny Rogers and Shawon Dunston of the New York Mets were among several others who filed.

Benes and the Diamondbacks agreed in February 1998 to an $18-million, three-year contract that paid him $6 million per season, but the deal gave him the right to end it after two years and he informed the Diamondbacks late Thursday he was opting out.

The Atlanta Braves exercised a $4.75-million option on third baseman Chipper Jones for next season.

Pitcher Hideo Nomo rejected the Philadelphia Phillies’ waiver claim, becoming a free agent.

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George Steinbrenner hoisted a broom from a parade float. Darryl Strawberry broke down in tears. And millions of fans staged another Broadway revival with a blizzard of confetti.

“This stuff never gets old,” New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre said at a City Hall rally following the victory parade for his team’s recent World Series win. “This one seemed even better. I think you appreciate it more each time you do it.”

Police Commissioner Howard Safir generously estimated the crowd at 3.6 million, topping the crowds for the 1996 and 1998 parades.

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Harvey Schiller resigned as president of Turner Sports and is expected to become chief executive officer of YankeeNets, the holding company of the baseball and basketball teams.