Mussina to retire

From combined dispatches

New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina has decided to retire from Major League Baseball after his first 20-win season, Fox Sports reported on its Web site.

Mussina will announce the decision later this week, the Web site said, citing unidentified league sources. An e-mail seeking comment from his agent, Arn Tellem, wasn’t immediately returned.

Mussina, who turns 40 on Dec. 8 and is a free agent, went 20-9 last season, his 18th in the major leagues, and had a 3.37 earned run average.

He’ll end his career with a 270-153 record and a 3.68 ERA in 537 games, being named an All-Star five times and finishing second behind Pedro Martinez for the 1999 Cy Young Award.

TRADE: The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining up first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida.

The switch-hitting Crisp gives the Royals speed at the top of the lineup and a superb defender in center field who has World Series experience.

“The speed aspect of it was very important,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “I’ve talked many times about the importance of a balanced lineup, speed at the top and the bottom, and Coco certainly gives us that.”

NATIONALS: Washington’s coaching staff at Class AA Harrisburg is set for next season, and with the exception of one change, it looks practically the same as last season.

The Senators will have a new pitching coach: Randy Tomlin, who had the same position at Class A Potomac last season. He replaces Rick Tomlin, the team’s pitching coach the last four seasons.

John Stearns will return as manager, and hitting coach Troy Gingrich and head athletic trainer Beth Jarrett are also back.

The Nationals also announced that center fielder Roger Bernadina, who had suffered a Grade 1 calf strain while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, will be able to play again this winter. Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, the team’s medical director, examined Bernadina and said he would be able to resume full activity after a two-week strength and conditioning program.

OWNERS: Bidders for the Chicago Cubs have until Dec. 1 to submit offers, Major League Baseball said after a meeting of its ownership committee.

Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said representatives of four bidders have met in New York in recent weeks with officials from the commissioner’s office, MLB’s Internet company and the sport’s new television network.

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