Free Agent White Jumps to Marlins

The Florida Marlins filled a crucial position Tuesday by signing center fielder Devon White to a $9.9-million, three-year contract, marking the start of a promised spending spree to improve the young club.

“We felt we would not make these type of moves until we were in a position in which we could put out a competitive club which we feel has the chance to compete in postseason play,” General Manager Dave Dombrowski said.

White, who had a $4-million salary in 1995, will make $3 million next season, $3.4 million the following year and $3.5 million in 1998. He is the first free agent to sign with a new team this off-season.

White, who spent the last five seasons with Toronto and turns 33 next month, won his seventh Gold Glove Award on Monday. He said Tuesday he was thrilled at the prospect of playing near his native Jamaica and was ready to assume a teaching and leadership role in the outfield.

“I’ve noticed that we have a lot of young ballplayers over here, and I’m there to help them in every which way I can,” he said.

*

Right fielder Raul Mondesi became the first Dodger position player in 14 years, and only the second Dodger outfielder since 1973, to win a Gold Glove Award. Mondesi, who led the major leagues with 16 outfielder assists, joins Dusty Baker as the Dodger outfielders to win a Gold Glove since Willie Davis did so in 1973.

Atlanta’s Greg Maddux won his sixth consecutive Gold Glove Award, the second highest number ever won by a National League pitcher. Bob Gibson won nine Gold Gloves while pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals.

There were four first-time winners this year, including Mondesi. Others were Marlin catcher Charles Johnson, and San Diego Padre third baseman Ken Caminiti and outfielder Steve Finley.

Also on the team were Chicago Cub first baseman Mark Grace and Atlanta outfielder Marquis Grissom, along with Houston second baseman Craig Biggio and Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin.

*

Don Mattingly has made it official, saying the New York Yankees should find another first baseman while he contemplates retirement.

“He has given tremendous thought to what he is saying and he understands the ramifications,” Mattingly spokesman Ray Schulte said. “He is unable to decide whether he wants to play or not.”

Mattingly, 34, batted .288 last season with seven homers and 49 RBIs in 458 at-bats.

Boxing

Mike Tyson will fight Buster Mathis Jr. in Atlantic City on Dec. 16, pending approval of promoter Don King by New Jersey gaming authorities, according to casino owner Donald Trump.

“We’ll know within 48 hours,” he said.

King was barred from doing business in the state by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in July 1994 after he was indicted on wire fraud charges. His trial ended in a mistrial last week, but gambling regulators said the ban remains in place.

A source close to King says the bout will be shown free on the Fox television network.

The live site promoter for the bout, to be held at the Convention Center, would be Trump’s three casinos and the two Bally’s casinos in Atlantic City.

“It’s all speculation at this point,” Jack Leone, vice president of communications for the MGM Grand, told the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, was to have fought Mathis on Nov. 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a bout that would have been shown on Fox. That fight was postponed because of a broken bone in Tyson’s right thumb.

Track and Field

The Italian Athletic Federation rejected a world long-jump mark by Ivan Pedroso because of irregularities when the Cuban leaped 29 feet 4 3/4 inches, at Sestriere on July 29.

The decision left American Mike Powell as the world record-holder at 29-4 1/2, a mark set at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.

Pedroso’s jump had been in dispute because a man was seen standing directly in front of the wind gauge during a windy day in which there were only four legal jumps among 60 attempts by long jumpers and triple jumpers. Three of the four were by Pedroso.

IAAF, track’s world governing body, still must ratify the decision.

Tennis

Monica Seles pulled out of this weekend’s Fed Cup finals in Valencia, Spain, because of continuing knee problems, putting the United States in an underdog role against two-time defending champion Spain.

American captain Billie Jean King said she will name a replacement today from three alternates--Chanda Rubin, Amy Frazier and Martina Navratilova.

Miscellany

Maryland officials have promised to build a $200-million, 70,000-seat stadium for the NFL Browns, but they are making no promises to the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League. Gov. Parris Glendening told Stallion owner Jim Speros he shouldn’t expect any state funds to help him keep his team in Maryland.

Colorado football Coach Rick Neuheisel was reprimanded by the Big Eight Conference for criticizing the officiating in his team’s loss to Nebraska last month.

The family of the late pro golfer Heather Farr is suing Motorola Inc., claiming the cancer that killed her two years ago was caused by toxic chemicals dumped at its plants in the Phoenix area.