Tavarez Suspended 3 Games for Wednesday Night Tizzy

Pitcher Julian Tavarez of the San Francisco Giants was suspended for three games by National League President Len Coleman and fined $1,000 for behavior that led to his ejection Wednesday night.

After walking Chris Gomez on a borderline pitch in the eighth inning of the Giants’ 8-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, Tavarez slammed his glove to the ground, tossed his cap toward the plate and ended up chest to chest with umpire Sam Holbrook before Manager Dusty Baker pulled him away.

Tavarez is to start serving the suspension today. There was no immediate word on whether he would appeal.

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Commodities trader John Henry said he has a handshake agreement to buy the Florida Marlins, and he hopes to retain Manager Jim Leyland, acquire a couple of veteran pitchers and increase the payroll to at least $20 million next season.

But the defending World Series champions won’t contend for another title, Henry said Friday, unless taxpayers help finance construction of a new ballpark.

Henry said he and Rick Rochon, an aide to Marlins founding owner H. Wayne Huizenga, reached a tentative deal Sept. 1.

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Cleveland Indian first baseman Jim Thome will begin a brief rehabilitation stint in the minor league playoffs today and could rejoin the Indians by Monday.

Thome has been sidelined since he suffered a broken right hand when he was hit by a pitch from Wilson Alvarez of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Aug. 7.