BASEBALL

Faced with a deadline Monday to decide whether to become a free agent, catcher Charles Johnson opted to remain with the Florida Marlins, even though the team has no manager, no general manager and an owner who is trying to sell the club. Johnson, 30, has four years and $30 million remaining on a $35-million, five-year contract.

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John Franco, the New York Mets’ primary setup man, had surgery to remove scar tissue in his elbow. The 41-year-old left-hander won’t be able to start throwing until mid-January.... Outfielder Brian Hunter, 30, agreed to rejoin the Houston Astros for a $2.2-million, two-year contract.