Spring Training Roundup : Tigers Trade Mark Thurmond to Orioles for Knight

The Detroit Tigers traded left-hander Mark Thurmond to the Baltimore Orioles for veteran infielder Ray Knight Saturday.

Knight, 35, has hit .275 over 11 major league seasons, most of which he has spent at third base. Besides Baltimore, he has played for the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros and the New York Mets. He is expected to play first base and be a designated hitter for the Tigers.

“Ray is an established hitter who gives us help from the right side,” Tiger General Manager Bill Lajoie said. “He can play third and first base, and he’s a tough competitor.”

Knight was named Most Valuable Player in the 1986 World Series while playing third base for the Mets.

In 150 games for Orioles last year, Knight hit .256 with 14 home runs and 65 runs batted in. His finest season was 1979 for Cincinnati, when he batted .318 with 10 home runs and 79 RBIs.

Thurmond, 31, was 0-1 with five saves for the Tigers last year. Last week, he won a $435,000 salary through arbitration, but the Tigers said the ruling did not prompt the trade.

Thurmond, who was obtained from the San Diego Padres in July 1986 for pitcher Dave LaPoint, requested a deal this winter if the Tigers planned to use him in middle relief again this season, which they did.

Montreal catcher Mike Fitzgerald suffered a broken left wrist and will be sidelined for three weeks. The injury-prone Fitzgerald was hurt while catching batting practice Friday at West Palm Beach, Fla., but waited until Saturday to report it. Expo Manager Buck Rodgers said the team will seek catching help.

The Cleveland Indians signed outfielder Cory Snyder to a one-year contract, leaving pitchers Tom Candiotti and Rich Yett the only unsigned players, the club announced.

The Chicago White Sox are seeking to trade veteran infielder-designated hitter Roy Smalley to the New York Yankees. “I’m still hoping we can work something out with New York,” White Sox General Manager Larry Himes said. “I’ve talked with Roy. He knows the situation.”

Chicago is responsible for the last three years of Smalley’s contract at a minimum $1.6 million, including a $200,000 buyout for 1990.