Free Agents

Last year was a solid one for Orlando Cabrera. No shortstop in the American League started more games, had as many at-bats or more chances in the field than he did. Only Derek Jeter had more hits. Clearly a summer like that would pay off in the winter — or so he thought. Instead, Cabrera spent the off-season sitting by the phone waiting for a free-agent offer that never came. So, less than three weeks before spring training, he signed a one-deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Dodgers will refrain from pursuing any free agents during the off-season, Vice President Al Campanis announced Friday. "We feel we have a strong young team, and this team has been created through our strong player developmental and instructional program, as well as trades," Campanis said. "We have three possible free agents in (pitcher) Bobby Castillo, (catcher) Steve Yeager and (outfielder) Jay Johnstone, and we will deal with each case soon."

Atlanta has a surplus of starting pitchers and might be willing to part with Tommy Hanson, Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado. Arizona is reportedly willing to trade Trevor Bauer, the former UCLA star who was the third pick in the 2011 draft. Tampa Bay (James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson), Cleveland (Justin Masterson), the New York Mets (R.A. Dickey) and Chicago White Sox (Gavin Floyd) also have pitching assets that might interest the Angels, but General Manager Jerry Dipoto may lack the chips required to deal for such starters.

The Browns today signed 10 free agents, including Jeff Graham, a quarterback on the team's developmental squad last season, and defensive back Charlie Wright, the brother of Browns veteran safety Felix Wright. They also signed defensive end Bob Buczkowski, 25, a No. 1 draft pick of the Raiders in 1986, and four free-agent offensive linemen: Jeff Lucas, Matt Patchan, Bob Sims and Dave Smith. Also signed were tight ends Charlie Darrington and K. D. Dunn and cornerback Ellis Dillahunt.

Dave Winfield, who helped the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series, filed for free agency Monday and Ozzie Smith joined him after a decade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Four others became free agents, increasing the total to a record 115 with six days remaining in the filing period. An additional 41 players are eligible to file. Also filing were Baltimore Oriole pitchers Craig Lefferts and Pat Clements, Boston Red Sox outfielder Billy Hatcher and Detroit Tiger second baseman Lou Whitaker.

The National Basketball Assn. officially committed to unrestricted free agency Friday as a group of players, including Moses Malone, Tom Chambers and the Lakers' Kurt Rambis, became free to begin contract talks with any team. The new collective bargaining agreement gave free-agent status to any player who has been in the league for seven years or more and whose second contract has expired. Clubs losing players are no longer due compensation or the right to match a contract offer.

The Chargers have announced the signing of seven free agents, including wide receiver Wayne Walker, who set a Texas Tech receiving record of 2,007 yards in three years. Walker set the record by catching 100 passes, mostly from quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver, whom San Diego picked in the second round of last month's NFL draft. Also signed Tuesday were defensive backs Michael Brooks of North Carolina State and Shawn Hicks of Cal State Chico, linebackers John Moore of USC and Bob Sebring of Illinois, tight end Craig Davis of Southern (La.)

The Angels' free agents include radio announcers Bob Starr and Mario Impemba. The contracts for each expire as the season ends this weekend. Although Starr and Impemba both wish to return, the Angels have made no commitment to either for the 1998 season. Former Angel President Richard Brown, who represents Starr, said team officials have declined several invitations to start negotiations during the season. "I hope we'll work something out and see everybody in spring training," Starr said.

Arbitrator Tom Roberts said Monday that he will announce his decision in baseball's first free-agent collusion case Sept. 21. It was thought that Roberts might announce his decision Monday, but a meeting in New York with Donald Fehr, executive director of the Major League Players Assn., and Barry Rona, legal counsel to the owners' Player Relations Committee, was designed only to clear up procedural issues, Fehr and Rona said.

Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Ruben Sierra became free agents Monday, and Toronto cleared the way for World Series hero Dave Winfield to join them. Greg Maddux, Doug Drabek, Wade Boggs, Benito Santiago, John Smiley and Chris Bosio also were among the 26 players who filed for free agency on the first day of a 15-day filing period. There are 166 players potentially eligible to file by the Nov. 8 deadline.