BASEBALL NOTES

Tony Clark, an all-star who led the Detroit Tigers in runs batted in last season with 75, was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.

Clark, who batted .287 with 16 homers, is eligible for salary arbitration this winter and free agency after next season.

The Tigers apparently did not want to pay his salary, expected to be in excess of $7 million.

“We felt it was best to find Tony another home,” Detroit General Manager Randy Smith said.

Clark, 29, has a .277 career average.

It was the Tigers’ first major move since Dave Dombrowski left the Florida Marlins to become Detroit’s team president.

Clark was placed on waivers Friday, and American League teams had the first chance to submit claims, ranked by reverse order of winning percentage.

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Former major league manager Johnny Oates underwent surgery for a brain tumor and was listed in good condition at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Oates, 55, who managed the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles, was diagnosed Nov. 5 with the most aggressive form of a brain tumor after he became weak and started slurring his speech.

He managed the Rangers to their only three AL West titles (1996, ‘98-99), but Texas finished last in 2000. The team was 11-17 and 10 games out of first place last season when he resigned under pressure on May 4. He managed the Orioles from 1991-94.

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Angel right-hander Ben Weber underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday to remove a loose fragment from his right ankle. He is expected to be ready for spring training. Also, the Angels announced the hiring of Abe Flores, 37, as manager of baseball operations. He spent the last nine years as a scout for the Colorado Rockies.... Pittsburgh Pirate right-hander Mike Fetters and Minnesota Twin right-hander Rick Reed filed formal trade demands. They can demand trades because they are veteran players who were traded while under multiyear contracts.... The Oakland Athletics signed outfielder Mike Colangelo and released outfielder Billy McMillon and utility infielder F.P. Santangelo.... Catcher Mike DeFelice, released by the Arizona Diamondbacks in September, agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.