BASEBALL NOTES

The Atlanta Braves, changing the face of their team after another postseason flop, agreed Monday to a $40-million, five-year contract with free-agent outfielder Brian Jordan.

“The bottom line is family, being in Atlanta, not having to relocate,” said Jordan, who lives in suburban Stone Mountain. “The kids wanted daddy home.”

The Braves signed Jordan, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals last season, less than two weeks after making a deal with the Cincinnati Reds. Atlanta sent pitcher Denny Neagle, right fielder Michael Tucker and a minor-leaguer to the Reds for All-Star second baseman Bret Boone and pitcher Mike Remlinger.

Jordan, in the final season of a $6.5-million, two-year contract, hit .316 with 25 homers for the Cardinals, both career highs. He also had 91 runs batted in and 17 stolen bases.

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All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar joined his brother Sandy on the Cleveland Indians, agreeing to a four-year contract worth $30 million to $32 million.

While the deal wasn’t immediately announced, several sources familiar with the negotiations, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it had been completed. The Indians planned a news conference today at Jacobs Field to announce the contract with the nine-time All-Star.

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George Steinbrenner, majority owner of the New York Yankees, said that should he sell his stake in the team to media giant Cablevision Systems Corporation, he and his family would remain in control of the club. Steinbrenner denied reports that he had reached an agreement or agreed in principle to sell his stake to Cablevision for between $550 and $650 million in a record-setting deal. . . . Eighteen days after demanding a trade from the Oakland Athletics, left-hander Kenny Rogers rescinded his demand and decided to spend one more season with the team. The A’s removed an option for the 2000 season from Rogers’ contract, meaning the pitcher will be a free agent after next season. . . . Manager Tim Johnson of the Toronto Blue Jays issued an apology to calm a storm over alleged misrepresentations concerning his U.S. military career and for erroneous information in his personal biography. “I want to make it clear that although I was a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, I never served in Vietnam,” Johnson said in his letter of apology. . . . The Florida Marlins traded catcher Gregg Zaun to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named or cash considerations.