Baseball -- Fired Once By Yankees Is Enough -- $50,000 Just Not Enough To Deal With Steinbrenner

NEW YORK - Would you take $50,000 a year to work for George Steinbrenner?

Rob Butcher, the New York Yankees' director of media relations the past three seasons, has answered no.

"I know there are millions of guys who would want this job, and one of them is going to get it," Butcher said from Yankee Stadium, where he cleared out his desk.

Steinbrenner, the club's temperamental owner, gave Butcher a chance yesterday to reclaim a job from which he was fired 14 days ago.

"I told him I couldn't come back," said Butcher, 33. "You just don't treat people the way they treat people here. Too many people in this organization tell lies, and I didn't want to do that."

Butcher disagrees with the Yankees' executive vice president, David Sussman, and special adviser Arthur Richman about the circumstances under which he was fired.

This much is known: When pitcher David Cone re-signed with the team Dec. 21, Butcher wasn't in his office to take Steinbrenner's call, and the owner was furious.

Butcher says Steinbrenner forgot about giving him permission to go to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, to visit relatives that day. According to Butcher, Sussman and Richman never told him not to go home.

Richman said Steinbrenner had not approved Butcher's trip.

SABERHAGEN OUT FOR SEASON?

DENVER - A doctor has recommended that pitcher Bret Saberhagen of the Colorado Rockies undergo a second operation on his shoulder, which could sideline the two-time Cy Young Award winner for the 1996 season.

Saberhagen, acquired by the Rockies last July but slowed by shoulder problems, underwent arthroscopic surgery shortly after the season ended and has not been cleared to begin throwing. He continues to have pain in the shoulder.

Saberhagen, 31, was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Inglewood, Calif., yesterday and is expected to get at least one more opinion.

Dr. Robert Altchek, the New York Mets team physician who performed the arthroscopic surgery, already has recommended a second, reconstructive operation.

PIRATE SALE NOT DONE DEAL

NEW YORK - National League President Len Coleman said the sale of the Pittsburgh Pirates to a group headed by media heir Kevin McClatchy "is no slam dunk."

Two key issues remain unresolved: the Three Rivers Stadium lease with the city of Pittsburgh and an unpaid $6 million loan.

McClatchy, 32, has received tentative approval from baseball's ownership committee and the Pirates' board of directors for the $85 million buyout.

NEVIN MIGHT CATCH

DETROIT - Phil Nevin the outfielder could become Phil Nevin the Detroit Tigers' catcher this season.

General Manager Randy Smith said the Tigers will invite Nevin to spring training early with the pitchers and catchers next month with the thought that he has the right tools to become a catcher.

"He played the position in high school, and he has a strong arm," Smith said. "Not only that, but he sounds very open to it. We're going to bring him in early, work on his mechanics and see how it goes."

NOTES

-- Outfielder Jerome Walton and Atlanta agreed to a $500,000, one-year contract with a club option for 1997. Walton, 30, an Atlanta native, batted .290 with eight homers, 22 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 162 at-bats for the Cincinnati Reds last season. He will back up Marquis Grissom in center field.

-- Baseball players and owners agreed to push back the deadline for filing for salary arbitration by one day to Jan. 16 because of the Martin Luther King holiday.

-- The San Diego Padres have promoted Fred Uhlman Jr. to assistant general manager.

Compiled from Gannett Newspapers, Associated Press and Bloomberg.