Hershiser Signs With Indians

Cleveland signed former Indian pitcher Orel Hershiser to a minor league contract. Hershiser, 40, is expected to join the team at Winter Haven, Fla., today.

The right-hander spent last season with the San Francisco Giants, posting a record of 11-10 with a 4.41 ERA in 34 starts.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks were waiting for approval from the commissioner’s office of a trade that would send outfielder Bernard Gilkey to the Pittsburgh Pirates for infielder Tony Womack and outfielder Al Martin.

The deal was finalized Friday but was held up while the commissioner’s office reviewed provisions that reportedly have the Diamondbacks paying a large portion of Gilkey’s salary.

The Diamondbacks reportedly agreed to pick up the $5-million difference between the $11 million Gilkey is owed over the remaining two years of his contract and the $6 million Martin is to get.

The trade was designed to give Arizona some much-needed speed and to clear up salary room for Pittsburgh to sign Pat Meares.

The free-agent shortstop, who has spent his entire six-year career with Minnesota, agreed to a one-year contract with the Pirates worth $1.5 million.

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Baseball owners won the final two salary arbitration cases of the year, finishing with a 9-2 advantage over players.

Baltimore catcher Charles Johnson will get a $300,000 raise to $3.6 million, instead of his request for $5.1 million.

Minnesota outfielder Matt Lawton, who had asked for an increase from $215,000 to $2.4 million, instead will get the team’s offer of $1.6 million.

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Five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens reported to spring training, whisked into the New York Yankees’ Tampa, Fla., complex in a sports utility vehicle.

Clemens threw to catcher Joe Girardi for 13 minutes (59 pitches) in the bullpen, then signed autographs for nearly half an hour.