BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Sanders to Stay With Braves

Deion Sanders agreed to remain with the Atlanta Braves indefinitely, apparently turning his back on a $1-million reporting bonus offered by the Atlanta Falcons.

Sanders plays baseball under a contract that allows him to leave the Braves and report to the Falcons any time after July 31.

“We’re in a pennant race, and there’s no reason to leave right now--that’s just not fair,” Sanders said Friday night. He arrived at Candlestick Park in a limousine loaned by rap star Hammer.

“I’ll be meeting with the Falcons soon to discuss my future with them, also,” Sanders said.

John Schuerholz, the Braves’ general manager, was trying to negotiate a long-term, baseball-only contract extension with Sanders’ agent, Eugene Parker. The Braves automatically renewed Sanders’ contract on March 6 for $600,000, with an accelerated payment schedule that paid him his entire salary by July 31. Under the amendment agreed to Friday, Sanders will be paid additional salary on a pro-rated basis for each day he remains with the Braves.

Sanders is batting .319 with eight home runs.

Catcher Rick Dempsey was cut by the Baltimore Orioles and will resume his duties as an instructor in the organization. Dempsey was activated June 21 and went one for eight in seven games with two walks and a strikeout.

The New York Yankees placed Danny Tartabull on the 15-day disabled list because of muscle spasms in the outfielder’s back.