James Signs but Still Seeks Trade

The Indianapolis Colts’ Edgerrin James is staying put -- for now.

James, a former two-time NFL rushing champion, signed a one-year franchise offer Wednesday that will pay him a little more than $8 million this year.

“We think by making the move, it will help facilitate either a long-term deal or enhance our chances of working out a trade,” said Drew Rosenhaus, James’ agent. “We’ve always stated we are not interested in playing out a one-year deal.”

The Colts now are prohibited from reaching a long-term agreement with James before mid-July, or they would lose the franchise tag for the length of the contract.

James, 26, is coming off his best season since tearing a knee ligament in October 2001. James rushed for 1,548 yards and nine touchdowns, caught 51 passes for 483 yards and had a career-high average of 4.6 yards per carry in 2004.

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For the first time in four seasons, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, 29, will be playing with more than a one-year contract after agreeing to a seven-year, $52.9-million deal with the St. Louis Rams. Pace’s deal includes $18 million in first-year salary and signing bonus.

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The Cincinnati Bengals signed running back Rudi Johnson, 25, to a five-year contract reportedly worth close to $26 million, a year after he made $1.8 million while setting the team’s single-season record for rushing yardage with 1,454.

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Returning to his first NFL team, quarterback Brad Johnson, 36, agreed with the Minnesota Vikings on a four-year, $6-million contract.... San Diego Charger linebacker Steve Foley, 29, signed a three-year contract extension through 2009 worth about $10 million.... The Miami Dolphins signed free-agent safety Tebucky Jones, 30, to a two-year contract.

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Baseball

New York Met pitcher Steve Trachsel will have surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back and will probably sit out at least three months of the season, the team said.

Boston’s Curt Schilling, recovering from ankle surgery, doesn’t expect to start on opening day after throwing 63 pitches to Red Sox batters in a simulated game.

Meanwhile, outfielder Johnny Damon expects to sit out about five days because of cellulitis.

The Giants’ Barry Bonds returned to San Francisco to have his surgically repaired right knee evaluated, the team said.

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Miscellany

Kevin Gilmore, the Kings’ assistant general manager, is the leading candidate to take over as the Mighty Ducks’ general manager once the sale of the team is completed, a league source said.

Al Coates, the interim general manager, is not expected to be retained.

The Summer X Games, the annual action-sports event is coming back to Los Angeles for a third consecutive year, Aug. 4-7. ESPN will release an official announcement today.

Staples Center and the Home Depot Center in Carson will again serve as primary venues for skateboarding, bicycle motocross and freestyle motocross events. Long Beach Marine Stadium will play host tothe wakeboard competition and it remains to be decided where surfing will be held.

Criminal Type, voted horse of the year in 1990, died of a gastric rupture on March 9 in Japan, industry sources said. The 20-year-old stallion’s stud career was to end this year and he was to be sent to a Kentucky retirement farm.

Ross Newhan, the former national baseball writer at The Times, received the Fred Russell Outstanding Sports Writer Award from the All-American Football Foundation.

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Passings

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dick Radatz, a feared reliever in the 1960s, died Wednesday when he fell down a flight of stairs in his home, police in Easton, Mass., said. He was 67. Radatz lost his balance and suffered a severe head injury in the fall.

Todd Bell, a standout at Ohio State and a former All-Pro safety for the Chicago Bears, died of an apparent heart attack at 47 while driving near Columbus, Ohio.