Cleveland Indians manager Charlie Manuel had his gallbladder removed Wednesday, the latest in a series of health setbacks since taking the job.

        Manuel underwent the surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and will leave the hospital today, the team said.

        The 57-year-old Manuel has missed 27 games since replacing Mike Hargrove as Cleveland's manager before the 2000 season.

        On another matter, free agent outfielder Brady Anderson, dumped after 14 years by the Baltimore Orioles, is reportedly close to signing a one-year contract with the Indians.

        Anderson, who will be 38 in January, could sign with the Indians as early as today.

        Baltimore decided to release Anderson after he batted just .202 — 59 points below his career average — with eight homers and 45 RBI last season.

        The Orioles ate the final season of a five-year, $31 million contract Anderson signed after the 1997 season. The Indians would have to pay $200,000 of Anderson's salary with the Orioles picking up the remaining $3.8 million for next season.

        CONTRACTION:

        After two days of testimony, the grievance by baseball players to block owners from eliminating two teams recessed Wednesday with the first witness still on the stand.

        Gene Orza, the associate general counsel and No.2 official of the players' association, completed his direct testimony. Lawyers for owners will cross-examine him when the hearing before arbitrator Shyam Das resumes Monday in New York.

        Orza refused to comment publicly on his testimony. The first two days of the hearing took place at the same hotel where the union's executive board is holding its annual meeting.

        While players are discussing other issues such as a new labor agreement, interleague play, licensing and pension plans, management's plan to eliminate two teams before next season is the pressing issue.

        “Things are a little tenuous right now. We are trying to find out the direction contraction talks are going to take,” pitcher David Cone said. “You can talk about everything, but certainly contraction is front and center right now.”

        GIANTS:

        Left-handed reliever Jason Christiansen agreed to a $6.8 million, three-year deal.

        Christiansen was acquired from St. Louis on July 31 for a pair of minor-league pitchers. He made 25 appearances during the final two months of the season, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA, then became a free agent.

        Christiansen, 32, gets a $400,000 signing bonus and salaries of $1.6 million in 2002, $2.2 million in 2003 and $2.3 million in 2004.

        DODGERS:

        Kim Ng, who resigned as assistant general manager of the New York Yankees, was hired as the assistant to new GM Dan Evans.

        Ng, 33, is one of three female assistant GMs in the major leagues, joining Elaine Weddington Steward of the Boston Red Sox, on the job since 1990, and Jean Afterman, hired Wednesday by the Yankees to succeed Ng.

        CWS:

        The NCAA baseball championship might be changed to a best- of-three series from the current single-game format.

        A proposal to revise the series will be considered by NCAA officials in February, said Dennis Poppe, the association's senior director for baseball.

Shaw makes proposal to Reds Report: Reds lost $285,000 Baseball notebook

Bengals retain expert
Kitna sees lack of 'urgency'
Roberts striving for special teams consistency
Special teams highs and lows
Bengals notebook
Jax waves Whitted
NFL notebook
Don't make him mad
Vann, Peek C-USA stars
It's West and no one else
Xavier notebook
UK rolls to an easy victory over Keydets
NKU meets No.1
USA Today fires 3 from sports department
College basketball roundup
College football notebook
NBA roundup
NHL roundup
Coming up this week
Fender's FTs lead New Richmond
Ryle girls get first win, beat Walton
Moeller, Sycamore hook 'em up on ice

• Return to Reds front page...