Russell Returns as Devil Rays’ Third Base Coach

Former Dodger manager Bill Russell was hired Wednesday as third base coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Russell, who also will work with the team’s infielders, managed the double-A Orlando Rays last year, taking the team to the Southern League title in its first year as a Tampa Bay affiliate.

“Bill worked his way back to the major leagues,” Devil Ray Manager Larry Rothschild said. “He went to double-A and a lot of people would not have done that. By all accounts he did a great job and we are very pleased to have him.”

Before joining the Devil Rays, Russell spent 33 seasons with the Dodgers as a player, coach and manager.

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Miles Prentice, who still wants to buy the Kansas City Royals even though baseball rejected his offer, said David Glass should quit as the team’s chairman.

Glass, the chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Inc., said Tuesday he intends to bid for the franchise. For more than a year, Glass had denied he was interested.

“We think Mr. Glass should resign to protect the integrity of the process,” said David Westbrook, Prentice’s spokesman.

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The Dodgers announced pitchers Ricky Stone and Luke Prokopec, and infielder Adam Riggs have been sent outright to triple-A Albuquerque and that infielder Craig Counsell has agreed to terms on a one-year contract and has accepted an outright assignment to Albuquerque. The team also announced infielder Tripp Cromer has elected free agency. . . . Juan Gonzalez, whose loss in a paternity lawsuit prompted his wife, meringue star Olga Tanon, to demand a divorce, says he will not appeal the decision to the Puerto Rican Supreme Court.