Yankees Pick Up Raines’ Option Year

After refusing to exercise their 1998 option, the New York Yankees reversed course Friday and agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract with outfielder Tim Raines.

They also agreed to a $2.5-million, one-year contract with third baseman Scott Brosius and a $1.8-million, two-year contract with left-hander Graeme Lloyd.

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Harold Baines, Baltimore’s designated hitter last season, agreed to a $1.15-million, one-year contract with the Orioles.

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The Houston Astros said they will not extend 1998 contracts to third baseman Sean Berry or outfielder Chuck Carr, making both free agents. . . . Catcher Brian Johnson has signed a one-year, $1-million contract with San Francisco. . . . Kansas City agreed to a one-year contract with newly acquired shortstop Orlando Miller. . . . The Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Mike Myers agreed on a two-year deal worth $1,325,000. . . . Veteran infielder Nelson Liriano and outfielder Sherman Obando have agreed to minor league contracts with the Rockies.

Florida got rid of yet another player, trading infielder Kurt Abbott to the Athletics for right-hander Eric Ludwick. Marlin third baseman Bobby Bonilla underwent surgery on his left wrist to repair torn ligaments.. . . Left-hander Brian Bohanon and the Mets agreed to a one-year contract worth $350,000, a raise of $145,000. . . . The White Sox traded two relief pitchers, Al Levine and Larry Thomas, for shortstop Benji Gil of the Texas Rangers.

Closer Heathcliff Slocumb, traded by Boston to Seattle last July 31, agreed to a $3-million, one-year deal with the Mariners. . . . Pitcher Matt Anderson, the Tigers’ first-round draft pick, agreed to sign for a bonus believed to be more than $2.5 million. . . . Cleveland signed infielder Jeff Branson and pitchers Steve Karsay and Jason Jacome.

Jurisprudence

A Cobb County (Ga.) State Court jury decided not to award damages in a civil suit involving St. Louis Cardinal outfielder Ron Gant and Connie Mack IV stemming from a 1992 bar fight in an Atlanta suburb.

Georgia quarterback Mike Bobo was cleared of charges after his arrest earlier this week after authorities said he had been seen doing nothing wrong. Bobo, 23, was charged with obstruction of a police officer after he ran from police outside an Athens bar.

Three Maine hockey players accused of threatening a black student-athlete have been suspended from the team and face criminal charges.

Marge Schott’s alleged falsification of sales records at an auto dealership she formerly owned will be on major league baseball’s agenda at the next club owners’ meeting, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. A baseball spokeswoman said the agenda has not been set.

The Yankees lost an attempt to keep their antitrust suit against baseball in Tampa, Fla., when a federal judge decided to move the case to New York. Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and Adidas sued baseball on May 6 over a sponsorship deal.

Winter Sports

After the short program, American figure skater Tara Lipinski leads Maria Butryskaya of Russia and Tanja Szewczenko of Germany at the Champions Series Final at Munich, Germany.

Elvis Stojko of Canada took across-the-board first placings and straight marks of 5.8s and 5.9s to lead the men’s competition after the short program. Russia’s Ilia Kulik was second and American Todd Eldredge third.

Jan Wustenfeld led a 1-2-3 sweep for Germany in the men’s sprint event at the biathlon World Cup at Kontiolahti, Finland, and World Cup champion Uschi Disl and Martina Zellner of Germany finished 1-2 among the women.

Deborah Compagnoni kept her winning streak alive, but Katja Seizinger lost hers at a World Cup ski race in Val d’Isere, France.

Compagnoni rallied from fourth place after the first run to win her eighth consecutive giant slalom, ending Seizinger’s overall winning streak at six races.

Fog forced postponement of the first of two World Cup downhill races this weekend, after only 12 skiers made it to the finish line at Val Gardena, Italy.

American freestyle skier Jonny Moseley dominated both runs to repeat his victory of a year ago, winning a World Cup moguls events at La Plagne, France to move closer to his first Olympic berth.

Miscellany

The flame that will burn at the Nagano Winter Olympics got off to a soggy start in the ancient birthplace of the games in Greece. Rain and near freezing temperatures forced officials to use a flame ignited by the sun earlier in the week to light the Olympic torch. . . . Thulane Malinga, 38, regained the World Boxing Council super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision over unbeaten defending champion Robin Reid in London. . . . Ronaldo and Romario scored as Brazil beat the Czech Republic, 2-0, for a berth in the FIFA Confederations Cup soccer final against Australia, which upset Uruguay 1-0 in overtime at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. . . . The WTA Tour named Ric Clarson its chief executive, replacing the resigning Anne Person Worcester. . . . World and Olympic champion Le Jingyi will not defend her individual titles at next month’s world swimming championships in Australia.