White Sox’s Thomas Will Test Free Agency

Frank Thomas will test the free-agent market after spending his entire career with the Chicago White Sox.

The two-time American League most valuable player told the White Sox on Monday he will exercise his right to become a conditional free agent. Thomas has until Dec. 7 to sign with another club or return to the White Sox. Chicago General Manager Kenny Williams and Thomas’ agent, Arn Tellem, said they will continue negotiations.

Thomas signed a contract in 1997 that was to pay him $9.9 million in each of the next four seasons, including $3.8 million deferred with interest. Thomas sat out most of last season after tearing a triceps and batted only .239 before the All-Star break. He finished at .252 with 25 home runs and 92 runs batted in, and the White Sox invoked a “diminished skills” clause, which would allow them to cut his salary. Chicago can pay Thomas as little as $250,000 plus $10.1 million deferred over 10 years without interest.

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Lou Piniella was introduced in a news conference at Tropicana Field as manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after finalizing a four-year, $13-million contract that makes him the second-highest paid manager in the majors.

Piniella had asked out of the final year on his contract with Seattle so he could seek employment closer to his home in Tampa, Fla. The Mariners agreed to allow the Devil Rays to negotiate with Piniella after Tampa Bay met their demand for All-Star outfielder Randy Winn as compensation.

Piniella has a record of 1,319-1,135 in 16 seasons, the last 10 with the Mariners.

Winn batted .298 with 39 doubles, nine triples and 14 home runs in 2002 and drove in 75 runs as the Devil Rays’ leadoff hitter.

The Devil Rays also received minor league shortstop Antonio Perez in the deal.

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Art Howe was introduced as manager of the New York Mets, succeeding the fired Bobby Valentine. Howe was released from the final year of his contract in Oakland and signed a four-year deal worth $9.4 million. Howe managed Houston for five years beginning in 1989 and took over the A’s in 1996. He has a record of 992-951 in 12 seasons.

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Ken Macha will be introduced as manager of the A’s today, his agent said. Macha was the team’s bench coach under Howe the last four seasons. A’s General Manager Billy Beane did not outright confirm the appointment but left little doubt about his intentions: “I would say that continuity, given what we have available to us, will be very important. I think it would be somewhat foolish not to ... continue on that path.”

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Eric Wedge, 34, will be introduced today as Cleveland manager, a team source told Associated Press. Wedge will be the youngest manager in the major leagues. He managed Cleveland’s triple-A team at Buffalo the last two seasons.

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The Florida Marlins are not renewing the contract of John Routh, 43, who helped create Billy the Marlin and has worn the mascot outfit since the Marlins’ first game in 1993. A team official said Routh’s salary, estimated at $75,000, wasn’t a factor in the decision.

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Tennis

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was eliminated in the first round of the Paris Masters by Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Stepanek ended the match with his 19th ace.

College Basketball

Oklahoma State men’s Coach Eddie Sutton, 66, said he worked out a deal last week with Athletic Director Harry Birdwell that will let Sutton coach five more seasons after this one. Sutton has 702 victories in 32 seasons in Division I.

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Jurisprudence

Don King testified at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that he told rival boxing promoter Bob Arum about his exclusive rights to Julio Cesar Chavez before the fighter jumped ship in 1998.

King is seeking more than $14 million in damages to compensate him for the loss of profits from Chavez fights while the boxer was working for Arum’s Las Vegas-based Top Rank Inc.

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Miscellany

Matt Scranton completed a season sweep of the Pro V-8 category with a victory, his ninth, in the NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Pomona Raceway. Other division winners were R.J. Simrock in pro, Jimmy O’Connor in modified, Bruce Mortensen in hot rod, Mark Mazurowski in street tire and Jesus Padilla in all motor.

Some of the top horse riders in the U.S. and Canada will compete in the Galway Downs Three-Day Event on Nov. 1-3 at Temecula.

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T.J. Simers has the day off.