Rangers Get Palmeiro for $45 Million

Sign one slugger, lose another.

The Baltimore Orioles had barely finished celebrating the signing of Albert Belle on Tuesday when hours later they learned that Rafael Palmeiro agreed to a five-year deal with the Texas Rangers.

The dealing didn’t end there. The Orioles later agreed to acquire catcher Charles Johnson from the New York Mets as part of a three-way trade with the Dodgers and send relief pitcher Armando Benitez to New York.

Oriole General Manager Frank Wren said the team worked feverishly to keep Palmeiro, who had 43 homers and 121 runs batted in last season with Baltimore in the final year of his five-year contract.

Wren said the Orioles put two offers on the table over the past week, including a package he called more lucrative than Palmeiro’s $45-million, five-year deal with the Rangers.

Belle, meanwhile, was all smiles in his Baltimore coming-out party at Camden Yards. He was downright cordial after signing a $65-million contract that made him the highest-paid player in franchise history, and said his jaded regard for the press is over.

“I make a promise today that I am going to improve my relationship with the media,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to talk about baseball when you are in last place and you’re getting your brains beat out every night.”

Belle wore a jersey with the No. 88 on the back at his news conference. He has worn No. 8 throughout his career, but Cal Ripken has that number in Baltimore.

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The Mets capped a wild day of dealing with the signing of free-agent third baseman Robin Ventura.

They outbid the Orioles for Ventura, agreeing to a $32-million, four-year deal with the former White Sox third baseman, a source familiar with his negotiations told The Associated Press on condition he not be identified. The Mets would not confirm the signing, but an announcement was expected today.

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Angel reliever Pep Harris underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow Monday and will sit out the 1999 season. Harris, 26, suffered a torn ligament in late October pitching for the Lara Cardinals of the Venezuelan Winter League.

Second baseman Justin Baughman broke his lower left leg in five places in a collision with his right fielder during a Mexican Winter League game in early November, and the speedster will be sidelined four to six months.

Harris was one of the Angels’ most consistent relievers in 1997, going 5-4 with a 3.62 earned-run average in 61 games. A shoulder injury limited him to 49 games in 1998, when he went 3-1 with a 4.35 ERA.

The Angels sent Harris to Venezuela with orders to build up his stamina, hoping he could win a spot in the rotation next season. But the recovery period for the “Tommy John” surgery he needed is 12 to 18 months.

The Angels also learned Tuesday that their bid for free-agent catcher Carlos Hernandez was unsuccessful. Hernandez will re-sign with the San Diego Padres, after agreeing to a three-year, $6.5-million deal. The Angels had offered Hernandez a two-year contract.