$9-Million Contract Keeps Grace a Cub

First baseman Mark Grace, a two-time National League all-star, agreed Tuesday to return to the Chicago Cubs for a two-year contract worth slightly more than $9 million. The Cubs have an option for 1998 that, if exercised, would make the deal worth about $14 million. Grace has the option to terminate the contract after the 1996 season.

Grace, a three-time Gold Glove selection, is coming off one of his best seasons. He had a National League-leading 51 doubles, drove in 92 runs and established career highs in batting average (.326), home runs (16) and runs (97).

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The Angels signed infielder Damion Easley to a one-year, $305,000 contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration, and announced that pitchers Shawn Boskie, Mike Harkey and Rich Monteleone will not be tendered 1996 contracts, making them free agents.

Free-agent pitchers Chuck Finley and Jim Abbott both declined arbitration--they had until 9 p.m. Tuesday to accept--so the Angels will now have until Jan. 8 to sign the left-handers or risk losing them. Both have already received three-year offers from other teams.

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Rod Beck, who set a major league record by converting 41 consecutive save chances for the Giants, agreed to a $6-million, two-year contract with San Francisco.

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Ron Gant rejected the Cincinnati Reds’ offer of salary arbitration, giving the club three weeks to come to an agreement with its top home run hitter. The Reds offered Gant arbitration Dec. 7 knowing the outfielder was not interested in getting a one-year contract through arbitration. Gant, who made $3.5 million last season, is looking for a multiyear deal.

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Second baseman Jody Reed agreed to a $1.4-million, two-year contract to remain with the San Diego Padres. . . . Rich Amaral and Doug Strange, reserves who played key roles for the Seattle Mariners last season, agreed to re-sign one-year contracts worth $400,000 and $350,000, respectively. . . . The Boston Red Sox and designated hitter Reggie Jefferson agreed to a $570,000, one-year contract. . . . The Detroit Tigers and right-hander John Doherty agreed to a $400,000, one-year deal. . . . The New York Mets acquired catcher Brent Mayne from the Kansas City Royals and agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with reliever Doug Henry.

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The Giants have asked the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to help get a measure for a new privately financed ballpark on the March 26 ballot. At least four supervisors must submit the proposal to Registrar of Voters by Dec. 27 to qualify.

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Seattle announced it will open the season on March 31 against the Chicago White Sox, the earliest opener ever in the major leagues. There have been openers on April 2 on two occasions.

Boxing

Shinji Takehara became the first Japanese world middleweight champion when he won a unanimous decision over Jorge Castro of Argentina for the World Boxing Assn. version of the title in Tokyo.

Skiing

Alberto Tomba celebrated his 29th birthday by winning a World Cup slalom for his first victory of the season at Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy. Tomba, the defending World Cup champion, was timed in 1 minute 34.62 seconds on his second run.

Yves Dimier of France had his best slalom performance ever by finishing second, though he was 1.55 seconds behind Tomba.

Hockey

The Long Beach City Council unanimously voted to have the city attorney’s office to draw up a contract allowing the Los Angeles Ice Dogs to move into the Long Beach Sports Arena for the 1996--97 season.

The contract will be for five years, with two five-year options. The Ice Dogs, who moved from San Diego to the L.A. Sports Arena this year, would have the opportunity to leave Long Beach if minimum tickets sale requirements are not met.

Names in the News

Tennis player Jeff Tarango offered an apology to the Wimbledon umpire whom he accused of corruption and to the sport itself, and the Grand Slam Committee responded by reducing his fines by $15,500 and relaxing his two-tournament suspension.

Tarango’s fines were reduced from $43,756 to $28,256, and although he still will be prohibited from playing at Wimbledon next year, he now will be eligible to compete in the Australian Open next month.

Former Clemson football coach Frank Howard, 86, has been released from the hospital after suffering a mild heart attack last week.

A U.S. Olympic Committee panel in Colorado Springs, Colo., found no conflict of interest involving former USOC president William Hybl, clearing him to run next October for his old job.