BASEBALL NOTES

Former Texas Ranger Manager Johnny Oates, diagnosed this month with a brain tumor, will undergo surgery today.

The surgery will be performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Doctors will remove as much of the tumor as possible, and Oates will be hospitalized for several days.

Oates was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme tumor, the most aggressive form of primary brain tumors, on Nov. 5 after experiencing weakness and slurring of speech the previous week.

Oates managed the Rangers to their only three American League West titles (1996, ’98 and ‘99), but they finished last in 2000. They were 11-17 and 10 games behind Seattle this year when Oates resigned under pressure May 4.

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Former Pittsburgh General Manager Cam Bonifay was hired as Tampa Bay’s director of player personnel....Florida catcher Charles Johnson agreed with the Marlins to put off until Dec. 3 the deadline for him to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract. Johnson completed the first year of a $35-million, five-year contract....San Francisco outfielder Shawon Dunston, 39, exercised his $1.15-million option....Texas, which had the worst pitching staff in the majors the last two seasons, hired former Chicago Cub pitching coach Oscar Acosta for the same capacity....The Chicago White Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Ryan Kohlmeier off waivers from Baltimore. Kohlmeier, 23, was 1-2 with a 7.30 ERA and six saves in 34 appearances, including one save, with the Orioles last season....The Detroit Tigers re-signed outfielder Wendell Magee to a contract for the 2002 season, the team said. Magee had a .213 batting average with five home runs in 90 games last season. He missed time early in the season with a broken left wrist.... The New York Yankees bought the contracts of outfielder Marcus Thames and left-handers Brandon Claussen and Alex Graman from Norwich of the double-A Eastern League....Right-hander Dennis Tankersley, the San Diego Padres’ minor league pitcher of the year, was one of six players added to the 40-man roster. The Padres also purchased the contracts of right-hander Ben Howard, left-handers Eric Cyr, Mike Bynum and Cliff Bartosh, and outfielder Todd Donovan.... The Chicago Cubs signed former starting third baseman Kevin Orie to a triple-A contract and added pitchers Ben Christensen and Steve Smyth to their 40-man roster. Orie was the Cub starter at third base in 1997-98 and also played with Florida Marlins from 1998-99.