BASEBALL NOTES

Angel shortstop Dick Schofield and pitchers Kyle Abbott, Mark Eichhorn, Jason Grimsley, Bryan Harvey and Steve Ontiveros exercised their options and became free agents. The Angels also activated infielder Tim Harkrider from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted him to triple-A Vancouver.

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Sandy Alderson, general manager of the Oakland Athletics, is also getting his old job back as team president.

Alderson remained as the team’s general manager last season after co-owner Steve Schott assumed the club presidency. Schott, who wants to spend more time with his real estate development business, announced Friday he would relinquish his title and restore it to Alderson.

Alderson also signed a three-year contract extension that should keep him with the organization through the year 2000. The club also exercised the option on Manager Art Howe’s contract, tying him to the organization through 1998.

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The Houston Astros hired former outfielder Jose Cruz and former catcher Alan Ashby as coaches, again reaching into the team’s past to fill coaching slots.

The Astros hired former star pitcher Larry Dierker last week as manager, even though he spent the last 18 years as a broadcaster and never managed nor coached.

The hirings come a day after Bill Virdon, the winningest manager in Astros history, was named to Dierker’s staff as bench coach.

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Cleveland shortstop Omar Vizquel underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder. Vizquel had been diagnosed with frayed cartilage during spring training.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.