BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Report: Anderson to Resign From Tigers

The Detroit News reported Sunday that Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson will resign from the team he has led for 17 years at the end of this season.

Though his future is unclear, retirement is not Anderson’s goal, columnist Joe Falls wrote.

The story did not quote Anderson or name a source for the news.

Anderson denied he had made the final decision to leave before the Tigers’ 8-7 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday at Tiger Stadium.

“Nobody will know until the season is over,” he said.

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Ron Darling was released by the Oakland Athletics hours before a scheduled start. Darling was told of his release Saturday night on his 35th birthday.

Darling, who spent the last five seasons with Oakland, also played for the New York Mets and Montreal during a 13-year major league career.

He was 4-7 with a 6.23 ERA in 21 starts this season for the A’s. He is 136-116 in his career.

Darling’s place on the Oakland roster was taken by Doug Johns, a rookie who started Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.

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The Colorado Rockies optioned pitcher David Nied to triple-A Colorado Springs and recalled reliever Bruce Ruffin from a rehabilitation assignment for double-A New Haven.