Lankford Could Be Traded Today

Outfielder Ray Lankford remained on leave from the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, and could be sent to the San Diego Padres.

General Manager Walt Jocketty said he hadn’t heard from Lankford, who complained about a lack of respect before leaving the team. Lankford waived a no-trade clause in his contract, but the Cardinals were unable to complete a deal with San Diego before the trade deadline on Tuesday.

The teams could complete a deal as early as today, however, if Lankford and San Diego right-hander Woody Williams aren’t claimed on waivers by other teams, said a baseball source, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Padres would then send Williams to the Cardinals for Lankford and cash to offset Lankford’s higher salary in 2002.

Jocketty wouldn’t say whether the Cardinals had asked waivers on Lankford, 34, who was batting .235 with 15 home runs, 39 RBIs and 105 strikeouts in 264 at-bats.

Padre General Manager Kevin Towers said he couldn’t comment on the waiver process. But he also said Williams (8-8, 4.97) probably won’t make his scheduled start today against the Chicago Cubs.

“It’s very, very doubtful he makes the start [today],” Towers said. “Something’s going to happen. It’s likely he’ll be traded before we go on the road.”

The Oakland Athletics insist the team is not for sale despite reports to the contrary, including some that say the club is considering a $150-million offer from a group led by former Hollywood producer Peter Guber.

“We have not been sold,” team spokesman Jim Young said. “The team is not for sale and not on the open market.”

Several Oakland city officials, citing sources within the Athletics, said team owners Steve Schott and Ken Hofmann received an offer of more than $150 million from Guber’s Mandalay Sports Entertainment.

Oakland Councilman Ignacio de la Fuente, who oversees the city’s relationships with its sports franchises, said “a reliable source” on the team told him Tuesday the sale was “a done deal.”

The Cleveland Indians, battling injuries and the Minnesota Twins for first place in the American League Central Division, boosted their offense by activating outfielder Ellis Burks.

The Indians also recalled right-handed pitcher Tim Drew from triple-A Buffalo and optioned right-handers Jake Westbrook and Ryan Drese to the Bisons.

New Boston reliever Ugueth Urbina still doesn’t understand why he was passed over by the New York Yankees six weeks before being traded to the Red Sox. Urbina was close to becoming a Yankee in June, but the deal fell through when Urbina failed a physical.

“That’s what they said. I don’t understand it,” Urbina said. “When I was with the doctor, they said I was fine. I’m as healthy as anybody else.”

Outfielder David Justice is expected to return to the Yankees today after completing a rehab assignment with double-A Norwich, during which he went hitless in eight at-bats. . . . The Toronto Blue Jays activated second baseman Homer Bush from the 15-day disabled list. He sat out 32 games with a strained hamstring.