Yankees Settle Network Suit

The New York Yankees settled their lawsuit with the Madison Square Garden Network on Tuesday, leaving the World Series champions free to start their own television network next year.

Under the deal agreed to between the Yankees and MSG, the team could have a minimum of 65 games to televise on its network in 2002.

Harvey Schiller, the chief executive officer of the team’s parent company, YankeeNets, declined comment on the settlement, which ends the MSG Network’s right of first refusal, part of a $486-million, 12-year contract that expired at the end of last season.

MSG sued the Yankees last summer and got an injunction that blocked the team from forming a network with a division of the International Management Group. While the suit dragged on, the sides agreed to a $52-million, one-year extension for 2001.

YankeeNets would like to form its own network to televise baseball along with the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and eventually the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, the two other teams it controls.

Toronto pitcher Mike Sirotka, acquired in a disputed trade with the Chicago White Sox, underwent season-ending surgery on his injured left shoulder.

Dr. James Andrews discovered and repaired three tears in the labrum and also repaired a rotator cuff tear.

Sirotka, who never threw a pitch after being traded for David Wells in January, will be reevaluated in a couple of months. It is expected he’ll be ready for spring training next year.

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Colorado activated Gold Glove shortstop Neifi Perez after he sat out 13 games because of a sprained ligament in his left thumb. . . . Boston activated infielder Chris Stynes from the disabled list and sent infielder Lou Merloni to triple-A Pawtucket of the International League. Stynes started at second base Tuesday against Minnesota. . . . San Diego left-handed reliever Kevin Walker was put on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his left forearm. . . . Tampa Bay claimed right-hander Brian Rose off special waivers from the New York Mets. . . . Texas sent right-handed pitcher Jonathan Johnson to triple-A Oklahoma. . . . Baltimore purchased the contract of reliever Jorge Julio from double-A Bowie and sent pitcher John Bale to triple-A Rochester.