BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Ryan, Rangers Shake on 1991 Contract Option

Pitcher Nolan Ryan has agreed to a one-year contract option for the 1991 season, the Texas Rangers announced today.

The deal is a club option for 1991 with a buyout if the Rangers do not exercise the option. No further details of the agreement were disclosed.

Ryan, 43, is baseball’s all-time strikeout leader, with 5,076. He also has had 5 no-hitters, was 16-10 and had a 3.20 ERA and a major league record 301 strikeouts in 1989.

“Nolan has meant a lot to the Texas Rangers’ franchise in just one year, and we are excited about the possibility of extending that relationship,” Manager Tom Grieve said.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe has an inflamed right shoulder but will not have to undergo surgery, the team announced today.

Sutcliffe was placed on the 21-day disabled list retroactive to March 31, said team spokeswoman Vickie Pietryga.

“Rick can start throwing lightly on the side in five to six days,” she said, adding that his treatment will consist of medication and a strengthening program.

This year’s opening day game at Wrigley Field will mark the first time in six years that Sutcliffe has not pitched the team’s home opener.

Scott Terry, expected to fill in as the St. Louis Cardinals’ right-handed bullpen stopper while Todd Worrell recovers from elbow surgery, has a sore shoulder and is returning to St. Louis today for tests.

Terry’s injury further clouds the Cardinals’ bullpen situation. Long reliever John Costello may go on the disabled list with a groin injury and left-hander Ken Dayley has pitched one inning this spring after having some shoulder tightness.

The Boston Red Sox have trimmed their training roster to 29 players, sending rookie right hander Daryl Irvine and veteran infielder Jim Pankovits to Pawtucket of the International League.

At the present, the Red Sox are down to four pitchers vying for two spots.

Atlanta Braves reserve catcher John Russell was pushed off the team by somebody who hadn’t even been on it.

Less than 24 hours after being told he had made the big league club, Russell was shown the door Thursday when the Braves grabbed former Mets backup catcher Phil Lombardi on waivers.

“I don’t like the way it happened, but what can I do?” Russell said. “I think I have every right to be angry, but what good is it going to do me? It’s pretty obvious they weren’t really planning on keeping me from the start.”