Plantier, Nieves Traded in Separate Deals

The Detroit Tigers, desperately in need of prospects, traded pitcher Sean Bergman and outfielder Phil Plantier in separate deals with Oakland and San Diego.

In exchange for Plantier, the Tigers acquired shortstop Fausto Cruz and right-hander Ramon Fermin from the A’s.

Bergman was sent to the Padres along with right-hander Cade Gaspar and outfielder Todd Steverson, for catcher Raul Casanova, outfielder Melvin Nieves and right-handed reliever Richie Lewis.

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Tyler Green, an All-Star pitcher last season for the Philadelphia Phillies, might need season-ending shoulder surgery, the club’s physician said. . . . Colorado catcher Jayhawk Owens could miss up to two months after spraining his left thumb while sliding headfirst into first base against Milwaukee. . . . Jeff Russell, who spent most of 1995 hampered by back trouble, signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers. . . . Bret Saberhagen’s return to the pitching mound has taken a small detour. The two-time Cy Young winner, who has been playing catch with Colorado Rocky trainer Dave Cilladi every other day since March 2, said he started feeling pain in the back of his shoulder last week. “The good thing is there’s no continual aches and pains when I’m sleeping or throwing a baseball playing catch,” Saberhagen said. “Only when I try to put something on it.” . . . The Boston Red Sox effectively pulled the plug on their Jose Canseco-in-the-outfield experiment after the oft-injured slugger complained that throwing was making his arm sore. Canseco will become the full-time designated hitter this year. . . . President Clinton will throw out the first ball at Camden Yards on April 1 when the Baltimore Orioles open the season against Kansas City.