Braves Win the Neagle Sweepstakes

The Atlanta Braves won a battle of World Series teams to trade for left-hander Denny Neagle, sending three prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 14-game winner.

Anxious to replace the injured Steve Avery in their rotation, the Braves outbid the Cleveland Indians by giving up minor-league slugger Ron Wright, outfielder Corey Pointer and another player, possibly Brave right-hander Jason Schmidt (3-4, 6.75 earned-run average) who cannot be traded while he is on the disabled list.

Wright, 20, has 36 homers for Class A Durham and double-A Greenville. Pointer, 20, has 15 for Class A Macon and rookie league Class A Eugene.

*

New York Yankee pitcher David Cone, who underwent surgery on May 10 for an aneurysm in his right shoulder, will rejoin the team today, although it has not been determined when he will pitch again. The Yankees begin a four-game series tonight in Anaheim against the Angels. . . . The Seattle Mariners purchased the contract of left-handed reliever Greg McCarthy from triple-A Tacoma to take the place of Randy Johnson, who will sit out the rest of the season and undergo back surgery next month. . . . The Houston Astros placed pitcher Doug Drabek on the 15-day disabled list because of a bruised right hand and brought up outfielder Mike Simms from triple-A Tucson. . . . Frank Howard, the New York Met first base and outfield coach since 1994, resigned two days after manager Dallas Green was fired and replaced by Bobby Valentine, saying “it was just time to move on.” . . . Kansas City outfielder Michael Tucker will sit out three weeks after dislocating a finger with a headfirst slide into first base in the ninth inning Tuesday night. The Royals were tied, 3-3, with two outs in the ninth against Texas when Tucker hit a slow roller toward first base. He beat the throw, allowing the winning run to score. . . . Mike Morgan, ineffective in his last four starts and battered early in his most recent outing, was given his outright release by the St. Louis Cardinals, who called up first baseman Dmitri Young from triple-A Louisville, who ranked second in the American Association in batting, hits, doubles and triples. . . . Scott Erickson, scheduled to start for the Baltimore Orioles against the Seattle Mariners tonight, has a strained groin and might miss his turn. Jimmy Haynes was recalled from triple-A Rochester just in case.