Sheffield, Boras Duel Over Deal

Gary Sheffield contends Scott Boras, his former agent, has no right to a percentage of the salary he’s earning with the New York Yankees.

Boras filed paperwork requesting 5% of the $39-million, three-year contract Sheffield signed with the Yankees last off-season, the New York Post reported. Boras said Sheffield agreed to let him represent the outfielder when his last contract with Atlanta ran out, the newspaper said.

Sheffield disagrees, saying he negotiated his current deal with Yankee owner George Steinbrenner himself. And the slugger said he hired a lawyer to file a grievance on his behalf.

“He wants me to pay his lawyer fees,” Sheffield said of Boras. “He didn’t get enough money [from his contract] for Alex Rodriguez?”

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The Kansas City Royals, with the worst record and second-worst earned-run average in the American League, fired pitching coach John Cumberland.

Mike Mason, the organization’s roving pitching instructor, will serve as interim pitching coach for the rest of the season.

Going into Wednesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Royals’ staff ERA of 4.96 was next-to-last behind Baltimore’s 5.24.

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The Boston Red Sox signed right-hander Pedro Astacio to a minor league contract.

Astacio, 34, is rehabilitating from shoulder surgery. He pitched for the New York Mets last season, going 3-2 with a 7.36 ERA in seven starts. The former Dodger will report to extended spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., and eventually the Red Sox plan to send him to triple-A Pawtucket.

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Seattle Mariner catcher Miguel Olivo, just acquired in a weekend trade, wasn’t at Safeco Field for Wednesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers because he was being treated for kidney stones.

Mariner Manager Bob Melvin said Olivo could be sidelined two or three days. He played in Tuesday night’s 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers, going hitless in three at-bats.

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Ed Montague was picked as the crew chief for the All-Star game and will work behind the plate July 13 in Houston. He also umpired at the All-Star games in 1982, 1990 and 1998. He will be joined by John Hirschbeck at first base, Doug Eddings at second, Jim Reynolds at third, Marvin Hudson in left and Sam Holbrook in right.