Duane Ward

Pitcher Duane Ward signed a three-year deal worth $12 million with Toronto and pitcher Mike Henneman signed a one-year deal with Detroit for $3,437,500. Second baseman Bip Roberts was awarded a one-year contract worth $3.9 million in his arbitration hearing with Cincinnati.

Pitcher Duane Ward signed a three-year deal worth $12 million with Toronto and pitcher Mike Henneman signed a one-year deal with Detroit for $3,437,500. Second baseman Bip Roberts was awarded a one-year contract worth $3.9 million in his arbitration hearing with Cincinnati.

The Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen generally is considered to be the deepest and best in the American League. It is built around Tom Henke, the longtime closer, and Duane Ward, who has proven to be as strong a closer as almost anyone with that official or unofficial role. Ward was saying all the right things about his undefined job description Wednesday after saving a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins that tied the AL championship series at one game apiece.

It goes beyond the lingo of set-up man and closer. They are the Toronto Blue Jays' team within a team. A partnership. "No question about it," the closer, Tom Henke, said of his association with the set-up man, Duane Ward. "I think we've made a great team. We've won a lot of games and we've saved a lot of games. "We're also good friends, and there's been something of a friendly rivalry to it. We've kept each other sharp trying to outdo each other."

It goes beyond the lingo of set-up man and closer. They are the Toronto Blue Jays' team within a team. A partnership. "No question about it," the closer, Tom Henke, said of his association with the set-up man, Duane Ward. "I think we've made a great team. We've won a lot of games and we've saved a lot of games. "We're also good friends, and there's been something of a friendly rivalry to it. We've kept each other sharp trying to outdo each other."

The Toronto Blue Jays, looking for bullpen help with closer Duane Ward on the disabled list, signed 35-year-old reliever Dave Righetti to a minor league contract. Righetti, who was released by Oakland on April 27, has a career record of 79-76 with 252 saves for the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. He had no record with no saves for Oakland, which signed Righetti in December. Righetti was sent to Toronto's double-A affiliate in Knoxville, Tenn. . . .

Nolan Ryan struck out 14 batters in six innings at Arlington, Tex., but in between the strikeouts, the Blue Jays had enough hits to beat Ryan and the Texas Rangers, 4-0. The task was made easier because Dave Stieb (10-6) pitched well and the Blue Jays' bullpen was superb. Stieb gave up just two hits in 5 2/3 innings, David Wells retired all four Rangers he faced and Duane Ward finished up for his 11th save.

The Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen generally is considered to be the deepest and best in the American League. It is built around Tom Henke, the longtime closer, and Duane Ward, who has proven to be as strong a closer as almost anyone with that official or unofficial role. Ward was saying all the right things about his undefined job description Wednesday after saving a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins that tied the AL championship series at one game apiece.