The Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. - Rickey Henderson is back in baseball.

The 45-year-old outfielder re-signed Sunday with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League, where he played last season before returning to the majors.

Henderson has the most runs (2,295), stolen bases (1,406) and walks (2,190) in major league history. The likely Hall of Famer excelled during 56 games with Newark last year, then joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in July.

He played in 30 games with the Dodgers, his ninth big league team, and batted .208 with two homers, five RBI and three steals.

Henderson is expected to join the Bears on Wednesday and be ready for their season opener Thursday at home against the Long Island Ducks.

"The Newark Bears are a premier organization, and I will always appreciate that they allowed me to showcase my skills last season, giving me the chance to return to the majors with the Dodgers," Henderson said.

Henderson hit .339 with eight homers, 33 RBI, 52 runs and nine stolen bases with the Bears last season. The 10-time major league All-Star was named MVP of the Atlantic League All-Star game.

DEVIL RAYS: Tampa Bay consultant Syd Thrift announced his retirement Sunday after nearly 50 years in professional baseball.

Thrift spent time in baseball operations with Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Oakland, the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Baltimore before joining the Devil Rays in February 2003. He was the Pirates' general manager from 1985-88 and served as the vice president of baseball operations for the Orioles and Yankees.

"Syd has been a real good baseball man," Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said Sunday. "He had a wonderful baseball career. Wore a lot of different hats. I just salute his career."

Thrift was a minor league pitcher and first baseman in the Yankees organization from 1949-52. He started his off-the-field work in 1953 as a scout.

YANKEES: Outfielder Kenny Lofton was activated by the New York Yankees on Sunday and outfielder Bubba Crosby was optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate at Columbus.

Lofton had been on the disabled list since April 18 with a strained right quad after going hitless in his last 10 at-bats. He was hitting .167 in six games.

Crosby made the team out of spring training and batted .222 in 11 games with two home runs.

• Joe Torre is the fifth Yankees manager to reach 800 victories, following Joe McCarthy (1,460), Casey Stengel (1,149), Miller Huggins (1,067), and Ralph Houk (944).

SHORT HOPS: Twins outfielder Shannon Stewart was scratched from his second consecutive start Sunday against Anaheim with a sore left wrist.

Lew Ford moved from designated hitter to left field and Michael Cuddyer started at designated hitter.

• Jim Thome was back in Philadelphia's lineup against Arizona on Sunday after sitting out a game because of a cortisone shot in his left thumb Friday night.

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