No Deal Is Good Deal for Hundley

Todd Hundley and the Mets announced an agreement Friday on a no-trade clause that will keep him in New York, at least for now.

Hundley, yet to play this season after off-season elbow surgery, will play a position other than catcher upon his return and has been assured he won’t be dealt this season.

“We agreed to give Todd a no-trade provision for the remainder of the 1998 season,” Mets General Manager Steve Phillips said. “As we’ve stated throughout, our No. 1 priority is to make this work with Todd Hundley on this team and Mike Piazza on this team and John Olerud.”

For the remaining years of Hundley’s contract, which runs through the 2000 season, a limited no-trade provision has been added which allows Hundley to submit a list a teams to which he will not be dealt. The club holds an option for the 2001 season in which the limited clause would remain in effect.

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Spinning tales like yarn that will never fray, members of Cleveland’s 1948 World Series championship team gathered at Cleveland to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Indians’ last title.

The Indians honored the ’48 team, owned by Bill Veeck, in a ceremony before Friday night’s game at Cleveland. Each player was chauffeured onto the field in a 1940s vintage car.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Bob Lemon, a Hall of Famer whose No. 21 will be retired today before Cleveland’s game against the New York Yankees. “All you can do now is laugh like hell about it and tell lies.”

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Mark Wohlers, ineffective since returning from the disabled list more than a month ago, was optioned by the Atlanta Braves to a rookie league team to help him regain the form that produced 105 saves over the last four seasons.

Wohlers was to begin working out today with the Gulf Coast League Braves at Atlanta’s Disney World spring training complex near Orlando, the team said.

Wohlers was placed on the disabled list in early May because of a partially torn side muscle. In eight appearances since being activated on May 24, he has given up six hits and nine walks in 6 2/3 innings, leading to seven runs.

Overall, he is 0-1 with eight saves and a 5.63 earned-run average.

Wohlers is ineligible to pitch with the rookie team. He will work with pitching instructor Guy Hansen, hoping to smooth out his mechanical problems.

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Kent Mercker is trying his best not to leave the St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching staff even more short-handed.

Mercker was knocked out of his last start by a line drive to the lower left leg, sustaining nerve damage. He was passed over for his scheduled start on Thursday and moved back in the rotation to today.

But he pitched effectively in the bullpen on Friday wearing a brace, and was hopeful of rejoining the rotation soon.

A clear plastic, spring-loaded device made at a St. Louis hospital supports Mercker’s calf. It allows him to flex his foot, which he is unable to do without it because of the nerve damage.