New York ? Baseball commissioner Bud Selig called Friday for new talks with the players’ union to ban ephedra, the nutritional supplement that may have contributed to the death of Baltimore pitcher Steve Bechler.

Bechler died Monday, a day after collapsing at spring training because of heatstroke. A Florida medical examiner said the death may have been linked to an ephedra-based diet pill, Xenadrine RFA-1.

While ephedra is banned by the NFL, the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee, use of the substance, which is available without prescription, is allowed in baseball.

During labor bargaining last summer, owners talked about banning ephedra, but they did not include a ban in their proposal after the union told management lawyers that it would not agree to it.

“Selig and the clubs have been consistent in advocating the ban of and testing for all illegal drugs as well as over-the-counter dietary and nutritional supplements that pose a health risk to players,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement Friday.

Royals sign Sedlacek, six others

Surprise, Ariz. — Right-hander Shawn Sedlacek, who is competing for a job in the Kansas City rotation, was among seven players agreeing to a one-year contract Friday with the Royals.

Sedlacek was 3-5 with a 6.72 ERA last year as a rookie.

The Royals also signed right-hander Wes Obermueller, who went 14-5 in the minors last season and was 0-2 in two September starts with Kansas City, and outfielder Alexis Gomez, who appeared in five games in the majors last year and hit .295 with Double-A Wichita.

The others — catcher Ronny Paulino, shortstop Alejandro Machado and right-handed pitchers Kyle Snyder and Ian Ferguson — have never played in the majors.

Paulino, a Rule 5 draft pick from Pittsburgh, hit .262 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs in 2002 with Single-A Lynchburg.

Newspaper apologizes to Koufax

Los Angeles — The New York Post apologized to Sandy Koufax and retracted a gossip column item that caused the Hall of Fame pitcher to end his 48-year relationship with the Dodgers.

The Post and the Dodgers are both owned by News Corp. The Post published a reference in December to an unidentified “Hall of Fame baseball hero” who is secretly gay.

The paper said the player cooperated on a biography after the book’s author, who also wasn’t identified, agreed to keep the player’s homosexuality private. “Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy” by Jane Leavy was published three months before the Post story appeared.

Hoffman leaves Padres camp

Peoria, Ariz. — Padres closer Trevor Hoffman left spring training Friday to fly back to San Diego for an MRI on his ailing right shoulder. Hoffman has not been able to throw a baseball since Oct. 16 surgery to repair a tear in his rotator cuff and fraying of the labrum.

A’s sign Gant to minor-league pact

Phoenix — Ron Gant agreed to a minor-league contract with the Oakland Athletics on Friday, bringing the outfielder back to the team he played for two years ago.

Braves, Marquis agree

Kissimmee, Fla. — The Atlanta Braves agreed Friday to a $368,000, one-year contract with pitcher Jason Marquis, expected to be the team’s fifth starter.

Gonzalez reports to camp

Surprise, Ariz. — Two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez arrived in the Texas Rangers’ camp Friday.