BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : Bell’s Tirade Could Cost him $50,000

Outfielder Albert Belle of the Cleveland Indians is close to being fined--perhaps as much as $50,000--or suspended for his behavior toward a television reporter during the World Series, baseball officials said Tuesday.

There has been no final decision on disciplining Belle for berating NBC reporter Hannah Storm before Game 3, but the officials, who spoke on the condition they not be identified, said acting commissioner Bud Selig was contemplating a $50,000 fine or a suspension.

*

Dwight Gooden and Jimmy Key made successful 1996 debuts, pitching two innings each in a New York Yankee intrasquad game.

Key, who pitched only five games last season before season-ending shoulder surgery, allowed three runs and six hits, striking out three. Gooden, coming back following a drug-related suspension that began in June 1994, gave up two runs and three hits, striking out one.

The Atlanta Braves reached a deal to relocate their spring training camp to Walt Disney World in 1998. Disney lured the Braves away from West Palm Beach, their spring training home for 34 seasons, by beginning construction of a 7,500-seat stadium as part of a multimillion-dollar sports complex. It is to open in spring 1997.

Jose Canseco, absent from two workouts in the first eight days of training camp, was expected to miss today’s and possibly Thursday’s practices to testify in a lawsuit against him.

Boston Red Sox Manager Kevin Kennedy said he would excuse any player in that situation.

Marty Cordova, American League rookie of the year, agreed to a four-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, the team said. Financial terms of the contract, which has a club option for 2000, were not disclosed.

Mark McGwire will skip Thursday’s intrasquad game and probably will not play in the Oakland Athletics’ first exhibition game Friday against the Angels.

Manager Art Howe says he’s holding McGwire back purely as a precautionary move because of the unseasonably cold weather and McGwire’s history of back problems.