After Gooden Doesn’t Make Yankees’ Roster, He Retires

On his final day as a player, Dwight Gooden preferred to focus on his future rather than dwell on his once-glorious past. Unable to make the New York Yankees’ opening day roster, Gooden, 36, announced his retirement Friday.

“It’s a sad and enjoyable day,” he said at the team complex in Tampa, Fla. “I’ve enjoyed a great career. It’s been a joyous ride. I have no complaints.”

Gooden finished his career with a 194-112 record and a 3.51 earned-run average, striking out 2,293 in 2,800 2/3 innings. He also threw a no-hitter.

He was 0-1 with a 7.90 ERA in six games this spring after signing a minor-league contract in December.

The Yankees will keep Gooden in their organization in an undetermined role.

With an explosive fastball and sharp curve as a rookie with the New York Mets, Gooden made the National League all-star team in 1984 and was rookie of the year. The next year, at 20, he became the youngest player to win the Cy Young Award after going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA.

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Because of a shoulder injury, Detroit Tiger catcher Mitch Meluskey will not play this season. Meluskey, acquired from the Houston Astros during the off-season in a six-player deal that included Brad Ausmus, will have surgery to repair looseness in his right shoulder.

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An arrest warrant for Darryl Strawberry was issued in Tampa after the troubled former slugger left the drug-treatment center where he had been serving two years house arrest. Strawberry, 39, left after a treatment session and has not been seen since.

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Chicago Cub pitcher Julian Tavarez and San Francisco Giant third baseman Russ Davis, suspended this week for their fight at spring training, appealed the penalties and will be eligible to play on opening day. Tavarez was suspended for five games and Davis for three. The penalties were to have started Monday, but will not begin, pending a hearing.

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Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter played the infield for the first time in two weeks, but team officials continue leaning toward having him start the season on the disabled list. Jeter, who was recovering from a strained right thigh muscle, reported no problems after playing five innings.

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Right-handed reliever Antonio Osuna, acquired from the Dodgers on March 18 for three minor-league pitchers, agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Chicago White Sox.

Osuna, 27, was 3-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 46 appearances for the Dodgers last season. He struck out 70 and walked 35 in 67 1/3 innings.

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The Yankees are baseball’s most valuable team, with an estimated value of $635 million, according to Forbes magazine. The Mets, who lost to the Yankees in the World Series last October, were second in value at $454 million. The Atlanta Braves were third at $407 million and the Dodgers fourth at $381 million. . . . The Boston Red Sox exercised their option on Nomar Garciaparra’s contract for 2004, agreeing to pay their injured shortstop at least $11.5 million for the final season of a deal that began in 1998. . . . Warren Morris, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting second baseman for the last two seasons, was sent to the minors. . . . The Florida Marlins traded reliever Manny Aybar to the Cubs for minor-league pitcher Oswaldo Mairena. . . . The Houston Astros put starting pitcher Shane Reynolds and reliever Doug Brocail on the disabled list. . . . The Baltimore Orioles put right-hander Alan Mills on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right shoulder. . . . Reliever Paul Shuey and the Cleveland Indians agreed on a three-year contract extension through 2004.