M’S Deal For Mccarty

The Seattle Mariners acquired first baseman David McCarty from the San Francisco Giants for minor-league outfielders Jalal Leach and Scott Smith.

McCarty, 28, is signed to a minor-league contract but has been invited to major-league spring training.

McCarty spent the 1997 season with Triple A Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League. He finished second in the PCL in batting (.353), third in slugging percentage (.519) and fourth in on-base percentage (.419). He had 22 home runs and drove in 92 runs.

The first baseman was originally selected in the first round (third pick overall) of the June 1991 draft by the Minnesota Twins, following his college career at Stanford.

Dennis Martinez, 42, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since Seattle released him last May, agreed to a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves.

The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran shortstop Ozzie Guillen to a minor league contract and invited him to their major league camp.

A city-appointed task force today unanimously approved a recommendation for a downtown site for a new San Diego Padres stadium.

The site is a warehouse district just two blocks from the bayfront Convention Center and the historic Gaslamp Quarter.

The city and the Padres must still negotiate how to pay for the ballpark, and voters will have the final say, probably on the November ballot.

The Cleveland Indians signed designated hitter Geronimo Berroa to a $2.2 million, one-year contract.

Cleveland Indians general manager John Hart said he has stopped talking with Minnesota about a trade for Chuck Knoblauch, while Atlanta’s John Schuerholz called a deal for the All-Star second baseman “very unlikely.”

The Twins want to trade Knoblauch before spring training. The New York Yankees are still in the running.