Saberhagen Can’t Afford to Earn Millions

Two-time Cy Young Award-winner Bret Saberhagen is threatening to retire at the end of the season because of a financial dispute with his ex-wife.

Saberhagen said that he gets to keep only 13% of his earnings because he has to pay 47% to his ex-wife, 35% to taxes and 5% to his agent.

Saberhagen, who will make $1.15 million from the Boston Red Sox this year, said he pays $85,000 a month in spousal and child support for his ex-wife, Janeane, and their three children.

“I don’t feel it’s right for me to be busting my butt playing baseball, not seeing my kids and giving her all that money,” he said. “So, if I’m not playing baseball next year and my kid asks me why, I can say, ‘Go ask your mother.’ ”

*

The Atlanta Braves, bedeviled all season by a spotty bullpen, acquired right-hander Russ Springer from Arizona for lefty Alan Embree.

The Braves thus completed a sweep of their bullpen. Embree was the last member of the unit that started the 1997 season.

*

Serious New York fans are paying serious money for tickets to this weekend’s Yankee-Met series.

Some ticket brokers are getting as much as $600 for tickets to the three-game Shea Stadium series, the Daily News reported.

*

Hitting coach Ken Griffey says he’s not going to be a “patsy” for the Cincinnati Reds any longer.

Griffey returned to the club Tuesday, a day after he stormed out of the stadium because he felt he was being made a scapegoat for the Reds’ lack of hitting.

He talked to General Manager Jim Bowden, Manager Jack McKeon and the other coaches.

*

The Oakland Athletics acquired Bip Roberts from the Detroit Tigers for a player to be named later.