Expos Sign Ex-Oriole Batista

The Montreal Expos added much-needed power to their lineup Friday, signing free agent third baseman Tony Batista to a one-year contract.

Batista, a two-time All-Star, batted .235 with a team-leading 26 home runs and 99 runs batted in last season with the Baltimore Orioles.

He averaged 31 home runs a season over the last five years, including a career-high 41 for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000.

Batista has 182 home runs and 571 RBIs in eight seasons with Oakland, Arizona, Toronto and Baltimore.

He joins newly signed outfielder Carl Everett in the revamped Expo lineup.

Everett signed a two-year contract with Montreal on Dec. 16.

The Expos also announced the signing of right-hander Jeremy Fikac to a minor league contract.

Fikac was 0-1 with a 4.50 earned-run average in 14 games last season for Oakland.

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The Cleveland Indians found their second baseman for next season, signing free agent Ron Belliard to a one-year contract.

Belliard, 28, played for the Colorado Rockies last season, batting .277 with eight homers and 50 RBIs in 116 games.

“Ronnie Belliard is a complete and versatile player who has been a consistent offensive player throughout the majority of his major league career,” Indian General Manager Mark Shapiro said.

“We are excited to add a player with solid defensive skills who has played at three of the four infield positions, and at 28 is just entering the prime of his career.”

However, like most of the Rockies, Belliard’s statistics were better in Coors Field than on the road.

His batting average was 50 points higher, he hit six of his homers in Denver and had 31 of his RBIs at home in the high altitude and thin air.

Belliard, who made $475,000 last season, also made 15 errors, tied for the second-highest among National League second basemen.

The Indians, though, are counting on him to be their starter at second for at least one season.

The club had been shopping for a second baseman but failed to sign their top choice when free agent Todd Walker rejected a two-year, $2.4-million offer.

Walker, who played with the Boston Red Sox last season, eventually signed with the Chicago Cubs.

The Indians are hopeful that Brandon Phillips can develop into a starting middle infielder. Phillips won the job in training camp last year as a rookie, but he struggled offensively and was sent down to triple-A Buffalo at the All-Star break.

Hockey

Zach Parise had three goals and an assist to help the United States open the world junior championships with an 8-0 victory over Austria at Haamenlinna, Finland.

Brett Sterling had two goals, James Wisniewski, Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves also scored, and Al Montoya made 15 saves for the United States.

The Americans had 61 shots on goal.

The United States will continue Group A play Sunday against Slovakia, which opened with a 2-2 tie against defending champion Russia.

In Group B games in Helsinki, Canada beat Finland, 3-0, and the Czech Republic routed Ukraine, 8-0.

Anthony Stewart had a goal and an assist for Canada, and Dion Phaneuf and Dan Paille also scored.

Pittsburgh Penguin rookie goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 16 saves for the shutout.

Pro Basketball

The WNBA will hold a dispersal draft Jan. 6 for players of the former Cleveland Rockers.

The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, who had sponsored the Rockers, cut their ties to the WNBA team in September.

No new owner was found and the Rockers folded, WNBA spokesman John Maxwell said.

The Rockers ranked 10th among 14 teams last season in attendance, averaging 7,400 in the 20,000-seat Gund Arena.

The Rockers did not turn a profit in any of their seven seasons, Cavalier owner Gordon Gund said.

The Rockers were one of eight WNBA charter teams in October 1996.