Vaughn Thinks He’s Leaving Boston Soon

Mo Vaughn, who is in the final year of his contract and recently rejected a four-year, $37-million offer, said he thinks he’s on his way out with Boston Red Sox.

“It’s a shame to say, I think I have,” Vaughn said when asked if he has seen his last days in Boston. He spoke during an interview with WBZ-TV the same day the Toronto Sun quoted him as saying his first choice for a team to play with next season is the Blue Jays.

Vaughn, who has 25 homers, was booed for 20 seconds before his first at-bat Friday and for five seconds after he struck out.

Also, the Red Sox activated reliever Dennis Eckersley from the 15-day disabled list and promoted left-hander David West, a once-promising prospect, from Triple-A Pawtucket.

To make room on the roster, Boston sent left-handed reliever Ron Mahay to Pawtucket and right-handed starter Jin Ho Cho to double-A Trenton. The Red Sox also moved starting pitcher Brian Rose from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

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The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission approved a two-year Metrodome lease for the Minnesota Twins and agreed to drop a lawsuit against the team. In exchange, the Twins promised to seek a local buyer for the next 30 days, and to continue those negotiations if a viable candidate emerges.

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A developer wants to build a new stadium for the New York Yankees next to a $1.2-billion office, hotel and rail station he is building in Secaucus, N.J.

William McCann, president of Allied Junction Corp., said he has spoken with “high-level” officials in Gov. Christie Whitman’s administration about his proposal for a stadium .

But a spokeswoman for the governor said discussions about a possible site for the Yankees in New Jersey are pointless because owner George Steinbrenner has not committed to moving the team.

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A federal lawsuit accuses agent Joe Cubas of violating a contract involving the representation of Cuban defector Orlando Hernandez, who now pitches for the Yankees.

According to the suit filed by Thomas Cronin of Cape Cod, Mass., Cubas owes one-third of his commission for Hernandez’s $6.6 million contract to Cronin.