Forbes: 14 Teams in the Red

Fourteen of the 30 major league baseball teams, including the Dodgers and Angels, posted operating losses last year, Forbes magazine reported. The Dodgers lost $11.7 million on an estimated $108 million in revenue--in large part because of baseball’s revenue-sharing system, which has baseball’s top 13 revenue-generating teams contributing $100 million to the 15 teams with the lowest revenues.

That didn’t stop the New York Yankees--which had to pay $13 million in revenue sharing--from raking in $23 million in net income on a league-best $175.5 million in 1998 revenues. Forbes estimates the Yankees’ value at $491 million, the best in baseball.

The Angels lost only $200,000, the magazine reported.

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Pittsburgh pitcher Francisco Cordova will come off the disabled list to start in Atlanta on Wednesday. Cordova has been on the DL since April 11 with inflammation in his right shoulder. He made four minor league rehab starts. . . . Philadelphia’s Jeff Brantley, who got a save against the New York Mets Sunday, was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. Brantley was expected to have shoulder surgery and miss most of the season, but received a cortisone shot that hastened his return.

Cincinnati reliever Mark Wohlers, on the disabled list because he can’t throw strikes, had a satisfactory 10-minute session in the bullpen Sunday. His control was so good that he got through it using only one baseball. . . . The Reds optioned pinch hitter Mark Sweeney to triple-A Indianapolis to open a roster spot for pitcher Brett Tomko, who was called up to fill in for Steve Avery, who has a blister on his pitching hand.