Yankee Players Are Charged

Yankees Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia and a Fenway Park groundskeeper were charged with assault and battery Thursday for brawling in New York’s bullpen after the groundskeeper cheered for Boston during a playoff game.

Clerk Magistrate Michael Neighbors called the case against Nelson and Garcia “weak,” because no eyewitnesses or police officers who were at the game testified during a probable cause hearing last week. But he said the police report contained enough evidence to charge the players.

Neighbors also ruled there was enough evidence to go forward with Nelson’s cross-complaint against Paul Williams, 24, a middle school teacher and part-time groundskeeper from Derry, N.H.

Yankee spokesman Rick Cerrone said the team had no immediate comment. Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said the team was confident authorities would handle the case appropriately.

Nelson became a free agent after the World Series, and the Yankees have no interest in re-signing him.

The fight took place during a rowdy Game 3 of the American League championship series on Oct. 11, just innings after a bench-clearing melee that started when Garcia was plunked by a pitch from Pedro Martinez.

Williams said he was attacked by Nelson after the Yankee reliever bumped him, swore and told him to leave the Yankee bullpen if he was going to cheer for Boston.

But Nelson said during last week’s hearing that it was Williams who provoked the fight after he calmly asked him not to cheer for Boston in the bullpen.

In issuing his ruling Thursday, Neighbors said the lack of defensive wounds on the groundskeeper’s hands could suggest that Williams was the aggressor.

Williams’ attorney, Patrick Jones, said his client was “disappointed but not surprised” at the ruling and took issue with Neighbors’ characterization of the case. A probable cause hearing is not a mini-trial, Jones said, and police aren’t expected to present all their evidence and witnesses. That will all come out at trial, he said.

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Free-agent reliever Arthur Rhodes and the Oakland Athletics have reached agreement on a three-year contract, for about $9.2 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The Athletics have not confirmed the deal.... Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki agreed to a four-year contract with the Mariners, ensuring the three-time All-Star will remain in Seattle.... The Chicago Cubs agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.2-million contract with left-handed reliever Kent Mercker and a one-year, $1-million deal with outfielder Todd Hollandsworth.... Left-hander Sterling Hitchcock rejoined the San Diego Padres after agreeing to an $800,000, one-year contract. The Padres also agreed to an $800,000, one-year deal with former Dodger right-hander Ismael Valdes.... Left-hander Chris Hammond was traded from the Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for two minor leaguers: Edwardo Sierra, a right-handed pitcher; and J.T. Stotts, an infielder.... The Minnesota Twins agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with catcher Henry Blanco.... Catcher Mike DiFelice and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a $650,000, one-year contract.... Pitcher Amaury Telemaco agreed to a $525,000, one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.... Center fielder Mike Cameron and the Mets finalized their $19.5-million, three-year contract.

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Miami leaders voted to ask the county to seek a half-penny sales tax to raise $225 million for a new stadium for the Florida Marlins.

The city commission voted unanimously to urge the county to set a March 9 referendum asking voters whether they want to fund part of the stadium cost.