Tigers get permission to interview Trammell

Detroit Detroit received permission Tuesday from the San Diego Padres to interview first base coach Alan Trammell, a former standout shortstop with the Tigers.

Trammell is one of three known candidates to be Detroit’s next manager. The Tigers fired Luis Pujols on Monday after he was 55-100 after replacing Phil Garner in April.

Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski, who was not available for comment Tuesday, said he hopes to interview about five of 50 candidates he has in mind.

Dombrowski said that by the end of the month he will hire the club’s fifth manager since Sparky Anderson’s 17-season tenure ended in 1995.

The Tigers have not had a winning record since 1993 and tied Tampa Bay for the worst record in the majors this season, 55-106.

Bruce Fields, who managed Triple-A Toledo to a division title this year, will be interviewed for the job next week. The Tigers received permission Monday from Oakland to interview its bench coach Ken Macha.

Pirates’ Freeman leaves for Padres

Pittsburgh Dick Freeman, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, is returning to his old job as president of the San Diego Padres.

Freeman worked for the Padres from 1981-95, serving at various times as president, executive vice president and chief operating officer, vice president of administration and chief financial officer.

Just as he did in Pittsburgh last year with the debut of PNC Park, Freeman will help with the opening of a new ballpark in San Diego. The Padres are building a downtown stadium set to open in 2004.

Cubs waive reliever

Chicago The Chicago Cubs placed left-handed reliever Jesus Sanchez on waivers Tuesday for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Sanchez went 0-0 with a 12.96 ERA in eight relief appearances with the Cubs this season. He spent most of the year at Triple-A Iowa.

Dodgers’ Jordan has successful surgery

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Brian Jordan underwent successful surgery on his left knee Tuesday and is expected to be fully recovered by the time spring training opens.

Jordan hit .285 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs in 128 games this season. He was picked the NL player of the month for September, when he hit .347 with a league-leading 30 RBIs for Los Angeles.

He came off the disabled list on Sept. 1 after missing 13 games with a strained lower back.

Team orthopedic surgeons performed the one-hour surgery at Centinela Hospital to repair the patella tendon in Jordan’s knee.

He was released from the hospital and will begin his rehabilitation in about a week at his home in Atlanta.

Jordan is eligible for free agency.

Two plead guilty to robbing Sabathia

Cleveland Two former college basketball players pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbing Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia at gunpoint.

Damon Stringer, 24, and Jamaal Harris, 23, who were teammates at Cleveland State University, face four to 11 years in prison.

Sabathia, 22, and his cousin were robbed about 4 a.m. on May 17 at a Marriott hotel downtown, where they attended a party with several people they met earlier in the evening.

Sabathia was robbed of $44,102 in cash and jewelry, including a necklace and earrings. No one was injured.

Stringer and Harris pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery with a specification that a gun was used to commit the crime. Harris also pleaded guilty to a robbery count.

If Stringer and Harris receive the minimum four-year sentence, they will be eligible to petition for early release after serving 112 years, said attorney Joan Synenberg, who represents Harris.

They will be sentenced on Oct. 31 by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joe Russo.

Indians spokesman Bob DiBiasio said Sabathia would have no comment on the plea agreement.