Grieve, Athletics Agree on Deal

Outfielder Ben Grieve wanted some long-term financial security. The Oakland Athletics sought to lock up the 1998 American League rookie of the year and gain a measure of cost certainty.

Both sides said they got what they were looking for Friday, when Grieve agreed to a $13-million, four-year contract.

Grieve, 23, who would have been eligible for arbitration after this season, said he didn’t want to worry about negotiating his contract on a yearly basis.

“It’s always better to have some security and you just go out and play and not worry about hitting 30 home runs or hitting .300 to get X-amount of dollars,” he said. “If I go out and play better than the money I’m getting, that’s just a bonus. I’ll be happy I’m playing better. And if I’m playing worse, I’ll be happy I’m making that much money. So, I’m happy either way.”

Grieve batted .265 with 28 home runs and 86 runs batted in last season.

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Jeffrey Loria, the Montreal Expos’ new majority owner, has no desire to trade for John Rocker.

Trade rumors have mentioned Montreal as a possible destination for the controversial reliever, who reported to Atlanta for spring training on Thursday after his suspension was cut by an arbitrator.

“I don’t have many comments to make about that young man,” said Loria, a New York resident. “All I know is he will have to pitch against us. I wish him good luck.”

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New York Yankee pitcher Orlando Hernandez will miss his first scheduled spring start today with what team officials termed slight back muscle stiffness.

Although the Yankees do not have a timetable for Hernandez’s return, the problem is not considered serious.

“We want to give him a couple days to make sure and see if it gets out of there completely,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “It’s probably something that he has felt before and pitched with. This is spring training and we’re a little more cautious.”

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Juan Gonzalez, who is pondering a reported $140-million contract offer, sat out the Detroit Tigers’ exhibition opener because of a tight hamstring.

“I don’t know if it’s a strain, or just tight,” Manager Phil Garner said of the left leg Gonzalez was treating with ice. “My guess is, if this were the regular season, he’d be playing.”

Gonzalez, who came to the Tigers in a nine-player trade with the Texas Rangers, took part in other drills and said the injury wasn’t serious.

“Just a little tight,” Gonzalez said.

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Ken Griffey Jr.’s first game in a Cincinnati Reds’ uniform was somewhat underwhelming. Griffey singled and struck out twice as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Reds, 5-3, in a split-squad game at Sarasota, Fla. “It shouldn’t be that big of a deal,” Griffey said. “I don’t want to sit there under a microscope every day. I just want to play ball and be part of this team, that’s it.” . . . Former Dodger Ismael Valdes was rocked in his first outing for the Chicago Cubs, giving up six hits and five runs in 1 1/3 innings in a 14-12 victory in a split-squad game against the Chicago White Sox at Mesa, Ariz. . . . Chuck Finley, signed away from the Angels for $27 million over three years, was perfect in his first spring outing for the Cleveland Indians, retiring six batters in a row with three strikeouts against the Philadelphia Phillies at Clearwater, Fla.

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Andres Galarraga, hardly looking like he missed an entire season, had two hits and two RBIs as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Kansas City Royals, 7-3.

“I told myself when I got my first hit of the spring, I would be ready,” said Galarraga, who sat out last season while undergoing successful treatment for cancer in his lower back. “I got two hits, so I guess I’m ready.”

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Tony Phillips, 40, unable to find a job in the major leagues, agreed to a contract with the Valley Vipers of the Western League.

“This is an opportunity to rehab in a quality environment, at home, and with people I enjoy being with,” said Phillips, who lives in the Phoenix area.

The Vipers, an independent team managed by former Oakland pitcher Bob Welch, play at Scottsdale Stadium, the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants, and start their season May 18.