Indians Decline Option on Gonzalez

Retooling a division winner whose season ended in disappointment again, the Cleveland Indians decided Wednesday not to renew the options on all-star outfielder Juan Gonzalez and pitcher Dave Burba.

New General Manager Mark Shapiro, who announced a series of moves to save money, also indicated the team’s future will probably not include reliever John Rocker nor center fielder Kenny Lofton.

Manager Charlie Manuel was retained, but three members of his staff, including pitching coach Dick Pole, will not be back.

Gonzalez signed a one-year, $10-million contract last season with a $14-million option for 2002.

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Jason Giambi plans to file for free agency, despite the Oakland Athletics’ willingness to drop their opposition to a no-trade clause, the reigning American League MVP’s agent said.

“Unless they make some preemptive offer, he’s going to file,” agent Arn Tellem said.

Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball was caught in legal limbo after a judge ordered the man who ended up with the record-setting ball not to sell it until an ownership dispute is settled.

San Francisco Giant fan Alex Popov first caught the ball Oct. 7, but he lost it after fans piled on top of him. On Wednesday, he sued Patrick Hayashi, who wound up with the ball that could fetch an estimated $2 million.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge David Garcia, who ordered the ball not to be sold, set a hearing for Nov. 13.

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Steve Rippley was picked as the umpires’ crew chief for the World Series and will work behind the plate in Saturday night’s opener between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

In other World Series news, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani played host at a pep rally for the Yankees at City Hall, about five blocks from the World Trade Center disaster site.

He touched on his recurrent theme: People should strive to get back to normal lives after the terrorist attacks.

“What’s normal for October? The Yankees in the World Series,” Giuliani told a cheering crowd of about 300 people.

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Former major league managers Jim Fregosi and Jimy Williams interviewed with the Houston Astros, who said they wouldn’t talk to any more candidates for their managerial job until next week.... Florida Marlin General Manager David Dombrowski interviewed this week for the Texas Rangers’ GM position left vacant with the firing of Doug Melvin.... Houston’s Bill Spiers, who played in only four games this season, retired after a 13-year career.