All-Star Team to Tour Japan Again

A major league all-star team will resume Japanese postseason tours for the first time since 1992, playing an eight-game series from Oct. 31-Nov. 10.

Mike Piazza, Troy Percival, Cal Ripken Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Belle, Alex Rodriguez, Chuck Knoblauch, Andres Galarraga and Ivan Rodriguez are among the players already selected for the major league roster.

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Second baseman Mickey Morandini, an all-star last season, agreed to a new three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

A career .266 hitter, Morandini is batting 260 this season with two homers, 22 RBIs and a career-high 23 stolen bases in 107 games.

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The Chicago White Sox, trying to bolster their bullpen, acquired pitcher Tony Castillo and infielder Domingo Cedeno from Toronto in exchange for pitcher Luis Andujar and a minor leaguer.

Castillo, 33, was 2-3 with one save and a 4.23 ERA in 40 relief appearances for the Blue Jays.

“One of the things we were looking for is to get a veteran guy,” White Sox Manager Terry Bevington said. “We’ve had a lot of problems in the seventh, eighth innings.”

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The New York Yankees claimed Luis Sojo, a 30-year-old utility infielder, off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.

Although he is allowed 72 hours to report to his new club, Yankee officials were hopeful Sojo would be available for tonight’s game against the Oakland Athletics.

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Houston Mayor Bob Lanier has stepped into negotiations between Harris County and the Astros regarding a new stadium.

County and team officials are about $50 million apart on a proposal to build a new baseball park. Lanier is now suggesting the city cover about one-third of that difference by guaranteeing the sale of $15 million worth of permanent seat licenses, Houston television station KRIV reported Thursday.

Lanier said he hoped the city’s contribution would break the stalemate and help keep the Astros in Houston.

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Warren Morris, a College World Series hero and starting second baseman on the U.S. Olympic team, signed with the Texas Rangers.

Morris, whose two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Louisiana State a 9-8 victory over Miami in the College World Series title game in June, was drafted in the fifth round.