Indian GM Hart Says He’ll Step Down Nov. 1

In 10 years, John Hart built the Cleveland Indians from a baseball punch line into a power. And now that he has the club on top, Hart wants to enjoy the view.

Hart, who inherited a team that lost 105 games in 1991, announced Thursday that he will step down as Cleveland’s general manager on Nov. 1 and be replaced by his assistant, Mark Shapiro.

“I wanted to make sure this was the right time for the organization,” Hart said during an emotional news conference at Jacobs Field. “There are no hidden agendas here. It’s just the right time.

“There is no underlying issue. It all aligned at the right time. We’ve had a pretty good run. This organization is in great shape.”

Hart, 52, can be credited for much of Cleveland’s success. He is under contract to remain with the club as a special consultant through 2005.

“Everyone knows about the great teams we have put together in Cleveland,” Hart said. “We have developed very strong front-office people, and Mark is one of those people. This is not a blow-up at all, but it’s an ongoing continuation of something that has been very special.”

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Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek agreed to a $14.9-million, three-year contract extension through 2004.

Varitek, earning $1.8 million this season, will get $3.5 million in 2002, $4.7 million in 2003 and $6.7 million in 2004, when he would have been eligible for free agency. He could earn an extra $300,000 in bonuses.

Varitek joins Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Everett and Derek Lowe as Red Sox players signed beyond 2002.

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Shortstop Derek Jeter is one workout away from returning to the New York Yankees on Saturday. Playing in a six-inning intrasquad game at the Yankee minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., Jeter went two for four and scored three runs. He played errorless ball at short and participated in two double plays. “It’s all right,” Jeter said of his strained right quad muscle, “No problems.” . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates put Terry Mulholland on the 15-day disabled list, leaving four-fifths of their starting rotation sidelined by injury. Mulholland sprained his left knee while throwing a pitch during a 6-5, 10-inning victory Wednesday night over the Cincinnati Reds. . . . Toronto Blue Jay second baseman Homer Bush, who sat out the final two months of last season because of a hand injury, was put on the 15-day disabled list because of ligament damage in his left thumb.