Baseball briefs

Hampton headed to Marlins?

Tucson, Ariz. ” Mike Hampton will rethink blocking a proposed six-player deal that would send him from Colorado to the Florida Marlins, the pitcher’s agent said.

The Marlins and Rockies agreed Wednesday to a tentative trade that would move Hampton and outfielder Juan Pierre to the Marlins for catcher Charles Johnson, outfielder Preston Wilson, left-hander Vic Darensbourg and infielder Pablo Ozuna.

Hampton and Johnson both have no-trade clauses and have until midday Saturday to decide whether to waive them. Before the deal was agreed to by the teams, Hampton said he would block it.

“It was probably premature,” Hampton’s agent, Mark Rodgers, said Thursday. “We owe it to the Marlins to at least let them make their best sales pitch to Mike. I think they’ll have that opportunity.

“Mike is not going to summarily dismiss it and say no way to the Florida Marlins. He might as well take advantage of this time to do what he needs to do to make a good, thoughtful decision.”

Greer out for 2003

Arlington, Texas ” Texas outfielder Rusty Greer knows he will miss the 2003 season after four offseason operations, but he doesn’t believe it means the end of his career. Greer is scheduled to undergo rotator cuff surgery Wednesday. He also faces surgery in the upcoming months to clean torn cartilage from his right knee, surgery on his right hip and a ligament transplant in his left elbow that alone requires at least a year of recovery.

Bosox honor seven

Boston ” Fred Lynn, Jim Lonborg and former chief executive officer John Harrington were among seven people inducted Thursday into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. Pitchers Tex Hughson, Boo Ferriss and Lonborg, outfielders Duffy Lewis and Lynn, shortstop Rick Burleson and Harrington joined 21 others inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995, 1997 and 2000.

Group says Washington could support baseball

Washington ” One of the groups trying to bring a major league baseball team to Washington released a study Thursday detailing five possible sites for a stadium, as well as an outline showing how the team could be profitable.

The study was accompanied by a letter to commissioner Bud Selig from the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission. It said a private-public financing partnership for a stadium could be completed within 120 days.

Rowand has surgery

Chicago ” White Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand underwent successful surgery Thursday for injuries he received in an off-road dirt bike accident earlier this month. Rowand broke two ribs and his left shoulder blade. He also bruised his left shoulder after he hit a hump and went flying over the handlebars on a trail near Las Vegas.

Konerko agrees to deal

Chicago ” First baseman Paul Konerko, who reached 100 RBIs and made the AL All-Star team for the first time this year, agreed Thursday to a $23 million, three-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. Konerko, 26, batted a career-high .304 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs in 151 games last season, although he struggled in the second half.

Yanks to keep Pettitte

New York ” Pitcher Andy Pettitte’s $11.5 million option was exercised Thursday by the New York Yankees in the team’s first big decision of the offseason. New York, which says it intends to cut payroll, could have given a $2 million buyout to the 30-year-old left-hander, who had filed conditionally for free agency on Monday. The Yankees, who had until today to make their decision, announced the move while general manager Brian Cashman was on a flight from Los Angeles to Japan.