BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : OTHER NEWS : Strawberry Working With Minor Team

Troubled outfielder Darryl Strawberry remains a player without a team, but he has been working out with the Palm Springs Suns for the last several days.

However, the team’s director of media relations said Friday it’s uncertain whether Strawberry will be a member of the Suns, who begin play in the first-year, eight-team Western Baseball League on May 19.

“It’s up in the air at this time,” Larry Hausner said by telephone from his Palm Springs office. “Right now, he’s just getting an opportunity to work out, to get back into game shape. He’s not on the roster; he’s currently here just working out with the ballclub.”

Strawberry, 33, was suspended from baseball for 60 days after testing positive for cocaine in January. The San Francisco Giants, who signed Strawberry last year after he arranged a contract settlement with the Dodgers, then gave him his outright release.

Earlier this year, Strawberry pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Last month, he was sentenced to three years probation starting with six months under house arrest at his residence in Rancho Mirage. Also, he must pay the government around $350,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties.

Strawberry is allowed to play for the Suns because the Western Baseball League is an independent league, not affiliated with the National Assn. of Professional Baseball Leagues.

Hausner said Strawberry began working out with the Suns on Tuesday and a decision should be made next week on whether or not he will will play with the team.

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The National League is looking into allegations by some replacement umpires that their plane reservations were canceled, unordered room service was delivered and that they were subjected to other forms of harassment.

Katy Feeney, the NL’s senior vice president, confirmed that the league is investigating the complaints by some umpires, who worked for a week while the regulars were on strike.

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More than 50 Native Americans and supporters marched peacefully outside Jacobs Field in Cleveland on Friday night to protest the Indians’ longtime logo, a caricature of grinning, big-nosed Chief Wahoo, as an ethnic slur. . . . The Indians put right-handed reliever Paul Shuey, who strained his right hamstring on Wednesday, on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-handed reliever Chad Ogea from triple-A Buffalo. . . . Willie Greene, the Cincinnati Reds’ opening-day starter at third base, was demoted to triple-A Indianapolis along with struggling setup man Johnny Ruffin.