New Umpires’ Union Agrees to Contract

Ending six months of often acrimonious negotiations, baseball and its new umpires’ union agreed to a labor contract running through 2004 that calls for raises averaging about 15%.

The deal, which must be ratified by the parties, was concluded late Thursday night and does not contain any provisions for rehiring the 22 umpires terminated last Sept. 2 after a failed mass resignation by the umpires.

Baseball withdrew its offer to rehire 13 of the 22, leaving the fate of the 22 with arbitrator Alan Symonette, who will decide sometime after Nov. 15 if they were terminated illegally.

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Rogers Communications agreed to purchase controlling interest in the Toronto Blue Jays, raising hopes that a new owner can rejuvenate a team that has fallen on hard times since winning the World Series in 1992 and 1993.

Rogers agreed to purchase 80% of the team from Interbrew SA, a Belgian brewery, for $112 million. Interbrew, which acquired the Blue Jays in 1995 when it purchased Labatt Brewing Co., would keep a 20% interest in the club.

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Robb Nen agreed to a $32.5-million, four-year contract extension with the San Francisco Giants that makes him baseball’s highest-paid closer. . . . The Cincinnati Reds agreed to terms with Miami high school shortstop David Espinosa and Pepperdine catcher Dane Sardinha, two of their top selections in the June first-year player draft. Espinosa signed an eight-year contract that guarantees him $2.95 million, and Sardinha signed a six-year agreement that guarantees him $1.95 million. Both players agreed to major league contracts, which means they have to be placed on Cincinnati’s 40-man roster. . . . After taking batting practice for the fourth consecutive day, Mark McGwire said he wouldn’t be surprised if he pinch-hit at some point in the St. Louis Cardinals’ seven-game homestand that began Friday.