Free Agent Kile Signs With Rockies for $24 Million

The Colorado Rockies finally got an ace, agreeing Thursday night to a $24-million, three-year contract with Darryl Kile that makes him the fourth-highest paid pitcher in baseball.

The 29-year-old right-hander was 19-7 last season for the Central Division champion Houston Astros. His 19 victories marked a career high, tying him for second in the National League. His 2.57 earned-run average ranked third.

Kile, who made $1.7 million last season, was an Astro for six years, compiling a career record of 71-65 with a 3.79 ERA.

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Jerry Manuel, who spent last season as bench coach beside Jim Leyland as the Florida Marlins won the World Series, was named manager of the Chicago White Sox. Manuel replaced Terry Bevington, who was fired in September.

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Free-agent outfielder Dave Martinez signed a two-year, $3.7-million contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Martinez, 33, hit .286 with 12 homers and 55 runs batted in for the White Sox last season. . . . Free-agent pitcher Hipolito Pichardo and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a $4.75-million, two-year contract. . . . Shortstop David Howard and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $1.8-million, two-year contract that gives him the chance to earn an additional $2.1 million in performance bonuses. . . . Each member of the Marlins voted a full World Series share will get $188,467.55, down 13% from the $216,870.08 received by New York Yankee players for winning last year. . . . The Angels are scheduled to open the 1998 season against the Yankees at home March 31, the earliest opener in franchise history.

Pro Football

Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards said that the $400,000 at the center of a gambling fraud investigation was paid to him by former San Francisco 49er owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. for legitimate services rendered “that will all come out at the trial.”

Eric Zeier will start at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday. He will replace Vinny Testaverde, who has not recovered from a knee injury. . . . The San Diego Chargers will put quarterback Stan Humphries (concussion) on the injured reserve list today, officially ending Humphries’ season. . . . Minnesota Viking quarterback Brad Johnson had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck in Minneapolis. He was already declared out the rest of the season and is expected be ready for minicamp by May.

Skiing

Katja Seizinger got her 30th World Cup victory, giving Germany a 1-2 a sweep at Lake Louise, Canada, in the first women’s downhill of the season. Katharina Gutensohn was second.

Kristian Ghedina of Italy seemed to confirm his status as heir apparent to retired World Cup champion Luc Alphand of France with a smooth, nearly error-free victory in the men’s downhill on the new Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek, Colo.

Boxing

Roy Jones Jr., the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight champion, is looking for new challenges and has decided he can find it in heavier divisions. Jones plans to fight as many as four fights as a cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweights.

Outfielder Juan Gonzalez and boxing champions Wilfredo Velazquez and Felix Trinidad were among the thousands of mourners at the funeral for former champion Edwin Rosario at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Miscellany

Crystal Robinson scored a season-high 28 points to lead the Colorado Xplosion to a 79-68 victory over the New England Blizzard before 2,559 at Denver. In another ABL game, the Columbus Quest defeated the Seattle Reign, 79-66. . . . Golfers Mike Brisky and Barb Mucha tied the tournament record in the best-ball format with a nine-under-par 62 in the rain-delayed first round of the JCPenney Classic at Tarpon Springs, Fla. . . . Phil Mickelson closed with a 31 on the back nine and shot a five-under 67 for the first-round lead by one stroke over Davis Love III at the Million Dollar Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. . . . Martina Hingis avenged one of her five losses this year, beating Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, 6-1, 6-2, in a second-round match at the $1.56-million Masters of Champions at Frankfurt, Germany. . . . Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett won the 400-meter freestyle in 4 minutes, 14.87 seconds at the U.S. Open Swimming Championships in Indianapolis. American record-holder Lenny Krayzelburg of USC set a meet record by defending his title in the 200 backstroke in 1:59.20. The previous mark was 2:00.12. Kristine Quance of USC won the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.56 after finishing second to Martina Moravcova (2:15.95) in the 200 individual medley in 2:16.01.