Signing Costs Braves $100,000

The Atlanta Braves were fined $100,000 for signing an underage prospect, then said Friday they are taking steps to make sure they don’t repeat the violation.

“We’ve taken what I think were great pains to see to it that this does not happen again in our organization,” General Manager John Schuerholz said. “We fully believe it won’t.”

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig imposed the fine and banned the Braves from scouting and signing players in the Dominican Republic for six months after finding they signed Dominican shortstop Wilson Betemit on his 15th birthday in 1996. That is one year earlier than baseball rules allow.

Selig also fined Atlanta scouts Paul Snyder and Rene Francisco in his decision Wednesday, penalizing Snyder $2,500 and Francisco $1,000.

Schuerholz said the team always tries to have correct information about a prospect’s age, but will accept Selig’s decision.

The ruling does not mean the Braves will lose Betemit, who batted .320 with 53 runs batted in in 67 games with Danville (Va.) of the Appalachian Rookie League last season.

In December, Selig fined the Dodgers $50,000 for signing third baseman Adrian Beltre before he was 16. The Dodgers also were ordered to pay Beltre $48,500, banned from scouting or signing any amateur players who reside in the Dominican for one year, and ordered to close their Campo Las Palmas training camp for one year.

The penalties against the Dodgers have not been put in place because the players’ association filed a grievance, attempting to gain free agency for Beltre. Arbitrator Shyam Das is to decide the case, but he will rule first on the union’s attempt to overturn the suspension of Brave reliever John Rocker.

Das’ decision on Rocker is expected next week.

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Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was hired as baseball’s dean of discipline and will be responsible for deciding suspensions for on-field conduct.

Robinson’s hiring as vice president of on-field operations follows the abolition of the American and National league offices and the league presidents, who had handled discipline for more than a century.

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Darryl Strawberry won’t find out if he’s being suspended or for how long until Monday at the earliest, according to New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre.

Strawberry failed a drug test Jan. 19, violating terms of his probation from a no-contest plea to charges of cocaine possession and soliciting a prostitute in Tampa, Fla., last spring. A judge approved the Florida Department of Corrections’ recommendation for enhanced supervision and treatment.

Strawberry, an eight-time all-star who turns 38 next month, has twice been suspended because of cocaine, and baseball officials have said a ban of about one year is probable.

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San Diego Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn has softened his stance on cutting off contract talks until after the season.

That development came as no surprise to club owner John Moores, who has balked at Gwynn’s asking price for an extension through the 2001 season, when Gwynn will be 41.

“What are the chances that the greatest Padre there ever was or ever will be is going to finish his career in Cleveland?” Moores said. “You figure it out.”

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The grievance trying to regain the jobs of 22 umpires was recessed until late April. Richie Phillips, whose union on Thursday lost the right to represent umpires, completed his fifth and final day of testimony before arbitrator Alan Symonette in Philadelphia. American League umpire Drew Coble, one of the 22 who lost their jobs Sept. 2, followed Phillips to the witness stand. . . . Second baseman Ron Belliard and pitcher Chad Fox of the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to one-year contracts.