Baltimore Orioles

Fernando Valenzuela, returning to the major leagues after a two-year absence, will start for the Baltimore Orioles tonight against the Texas Rangers at Arlington, Tex. Valenzuela was a longshot to make the team after signing a minor league contract with the Orioles on Feb. 27.

The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles have been within 1 1/2 games of one another in the American League East for the last 55 days. They've also traded leads 14 times. "We're trying to find a time two teams have ever been that close for this long," said Rick Vaughn, Oriole public relations director, "but we can't find it. We're still looking." Trivia: Who are the three active players who have had their uniforms retired?

The Baltimore Orioles have invited seven non-roster players to the club's major league training camp in Miami this spring, Executive Vice President and General Manager Hank Peters announced. The non-roster players include second baseman Juan Bonilla, 29, who led the International League in batting last season with a .330 average in 102 games with Columbus, a Yankees affiliate. He also spent three seasons with the San Diego Padres.

The Baltimore Orioles have decided not to renew their options on the contracts of outfielders Jim Dwyer and Juan Beniquez, but will be in touch with their agents to try to re-sign them at lower salaries, according to Hank Peters, the club's general manager. Dwyer made about $450,000 last season, while Beniquez signed with the Orioles for about $650,000.

The Oakland A's have scheduled two twi-night doubleheaders with the Baltimore Orioles next Thursday and Friday to make up for games rained out in Baltimore this week. The doubleheaders, replacing what were originally scheduled as single night games, will start at 4:05 p.m. both days, a spokeswoman for the American League team said.

The Baltimore Orioles defended Albert Belle on Saturday, insisting his recent clubhouse tirade should never have been reported. Belle angrily threw his glove, helmet and two bats into his locker Thursday after striking out in the sixth inning of an exhibition game. Speaking in the Oriole dugout before an exhibition game against Montreal, Oriole General Manager Frank Wren said, "I think the whole situation is unjust.

Dodger coach Rick Dempsey interviewed with the Baltimore Orioles for their managerial position Thursday in Baltimore. Dempsey was scheduled to meet with Oriole owner Peter Angelos and other high-ranking club officials. Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone will wait until Dempsey's situation is resolved before making decisions about the coaching staff, team sources said. Also, Sacramento King President John Thomas remains the leading candidate for the Dodger presidency, baseball sources said.