Everett Seeks Return After His Suspension

Carl Everett served the final game of his four-game suspension on Friday as his agent and the Boston Red Sox discussed his possible return.

Everett was suspended when he arrived late for a workout last Saturday and then yelled at Manager Joe Kerrigan when he was told to leave the ballpark. The mercurial outfielder has reportedly asked to be traded.

“We’re getting a little closer to a resolution,” General Manager Dan Duquette said before Friday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

Everett’s agent, Larry Reynolds, complained that the team’s punishment was unfair and not in line with the way other players have been treated.

Asked if it was possible that Everett, who has two years and $17.5 million left on his contract, would never play for the team again, Duquette said, “We’re still working on a couple of issues that need to be resolved for him to return [today].”

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Baseball delayed the start of the World Series to Oct. 27 in a new postseason schedule that was announced Friday, a move that means the October Classic will end in November unless a team sweeps.

After extending the regular season by a week through Oct. 7 to make up games postponed by last week’s terrorist attacks, baseball pushed back the start of the playoffs from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9.

The start of the NL championship series was delayed a week to Oct. 16 and the AL championship series was put off to Oct. 17. If the World Series goes seven games, it would end Nov. 4.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates’ revenues are five times what they were before Kevin McClatchy and his partners bought the team in 1996, McClatchy told a sports business conference.

Helped by this season’s opening of PNC Park, the Pirates expect revenues of $110 million, up significantly from $22 million in the strike-shortened 1995 season. That was the Pirates’ final season under a public-private ownership consortium that bought the team in 1985.

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After 24 years in baseball, Jim Beattie decided he wanted to take a break and spend more time with his kids.

“They’re getting close to going to college and I just decided it was time for me to spend more time around my family,” Beattie said after announcing his resignation as the Montreal Expos’ general manager when his three-year contract expires Oct. 31.

Despite rumors that he would leave his job with the Expos to become the athletic director at Dartmouth, Beattie denied having any contact with the school about the vacancy.

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The Florida Marlins are delaying efforts for a new stadium after last week’s terrorist attacks.

The Marlins were due to pay $250,000 to cover city consultants’ fees by Thursday to extend negotiations with the Miami City Council for another 60 days. But amid national concerns, Marlins’ Vice Chairman Dave Ginsberg said the postponement was in order.

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Kansas City Royals right-hander Paul Byrd is out for the year after having a second MRI exam on his ailing right shoulder. ... The Baltimore Orioles will finish the season without rookie Josh Towers, who broke his right ring finger in a fit of frustration after a poor performance Thursday night. ... Toronto Blue Jay pitcher Steve Parris will undergo surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday. Parris has a damaged labrum and rotator cuff. He will be sidelined six to 12 months. ... The Chicago White Sox put right-hander Rocky Biddle on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right shoulder that he is expected to have arthroscopic surgery on soon.