Cleveland Decides Against Trading Ramirez

After listening to offers, the Cleveland Indians decided to keep Manny Ramirez.

Ramirez is hitting .329 with 23 home runs and 71 runs batted in while playing only 63 games because of injury. The Indians, trying to get back in playoff contention, may lose Ramirez for draft picks if he becomes a free agent after the season and signs elsewhere.

Ramirez last week rejected the Indians’ $75-million, five-year contract extension.

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The New York Yankees were barred from forming a new cable television company with a division of the International Management Group to broadcast the team’s games starting next season.

New York Supreme Court Justice Barry A. Cozier granted Madison Square Garden’s request for a preliminary injunction agreeing with MSG’s claim that the Yankees’ agreement with IMG’s Trans World International division violated the MSG Network’s right of last refusal. That clause was contained in a $486 million, 12-year contract to broadcast Yankees games, a deal that expires after this season.

Cozier said the injunction would remain in force until a trial this fall, but he left the Yankees free to negotiate other proposals and present them to MSG.

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Cincinnati Red third baseman Aaron Boone will be sidelined for the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. . . . The Detroit Tigers released outfielder Luis Polonia, 35, to make room for triple-A prospect Billy McMillon. . . . The Philadelphia Phillies acquired right-hander John Sneed, currently pitching in double-A, from the Toronto Blue Jays to complete last week’s trade for outfielder Rob Ducey. . . . Catcher Mitch Meluskey (right shoulder) was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Houston Astros, who purchased the contract of catcher Raul Chavez from New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League. . . . Richie Phillips’ Major League Umpires Assn. let a deadline pass on a deal that would have rehired 10 of the 22 umpires baseball got rid of last September. The MLUA has filed a grievance, hoping arbitrator Alan Symonette will force baseball to rehire the 22, let go after the union’s mass resignation plan failed.