Nick Esasky

First baseman Nick Esasky, acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Cincinnati Reds in a multiplayer deal last month, agreed to a 1-year contract for $570,000. Esasky, 28, is expected to be Boston's regular first baseman this season.

The Angels' pursuit of free agent Nick Esasky apparently has ended before it got very far. Dan O'Brien, the Angels' senior vice president for baseball operations, said the team's chase of Esasky has "dried up." Esasky, who has missed most of the last two seasons because of vertigo, was released by the Atlanta Braves last week at his request. He is seeking a major league contract rather than a two-way contract or assignment to the minor leagues.

The Atlanta Braves released first baseman Nick Esasky. Esasky, 32, suffers from a type of vertigo and has not played in the major leagues in more than two years. After signing a three-year, $5.6-million contract with the Braves before the 1990 season, he played in only nine games before being taken out of the lineup. Montreal Expo pitcher Ken Hill was hit by a line drive while sitting in the dugout Friday and will have his right wrist X-rayed.

Nick Esasky, who hasn't played in the major leagues in more than two years because of vertigo, will report Friday to the Atlanta Braves triple-A farm club in Richmond to begin a 20-game rehabilitation assignment. Esasky, 32, played in only nine games with the Braves in April, 1990, before his unsteadiness was diagnosed as a form of vertigo.

Nick Esasky on Friday signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, a team that had wanted him for years. "He's going to be a great addition to our ballclub and our rise to the top," said Bobby Cox, Atlanta vice president and general manager. "It was a decision that was long coming," said Esasky, a first baseman who lives with his wife and three children in Marietta, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. "I know there was talk for many years of me coming here. It never seemed to work out.

The Angels spoke with the agent of Nick Esasky as they continue to express interest in signing the first baseman. "The simple truth is, he's not sure he's going to play (at all the rest of the season)," said Dan O'Brien, senior vice president for baseball operations. Esasky, 32, who has suffered from vertigo and hasn't played in the major leagues in more than two years, was released by Atlanta on July 17. He batted .

The Atlanta Braves released first baseman Nick Esasky. Esasky, 32, suffers from a type of vertigo and has not played in the major leagues in more than two years. After signing a three-year, $5.6-million contract with the Braves before the 1990 season, he played in only nine games before being taken out of the lineup. Montreal Expo pitcher Ken Hill was hit by a line drive while sitting in the dugout Friday and will have his right wrist X-rayed.

After hitting his third game-winning home run in three days against the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati first baseman Nick Esasky insisted he wasn't swinging for the fences. "I went out thinking I was going to get a hit," said Esasky, whose three-run homer in the ninth inning gave the Reds a 5-2 victory Thursday at Atlanta. "But I wasn't looking for a home run. A base hit would score a run, and that's all we needed."

Collusion II: If $10.5 million seemed a modest price for the owners to pay for their collusion during the winter of 1985-86, the damages seem certain to be higher for 1986-87. The players' association is asking for $60 million. The clubs acknowledge damages of $15 million to $17 million. Milestone: Nick Esasky drove in 36 runs in August, tying the Boston Red Sox record for that month set by Ted Williams in 1939 and equaled by Vern Stephens in 1949. If timing is everything, Esasky has it.

Nick Esasky, who hasn't played in the major leagues in more than two years because of vertigo, will report Friday to the Atlanta Braves triple-A farm club in Richmond to begin a 20-game rehabilitation assignment. Esasky, 32, played in only nine games with the Braves in April, 1990, before his unsteadiness was diagnosed as a form of vertigo.

Nick Esasky on Friday signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, a team that had wanted him for years. "He's going to be a great addition to our ballclub and our rise to the top," said Bobby Cox, Atlanta vice president and general manager. "It was a decision that was long coming," said Esasky, a first baseman who lives with his wife and three children in Marietta, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. "I know there was talk for many years of me coming here. It never seemed to work out.

Free agent Nick Esasky of the Boston Red Sox today signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, a team that had been wanting the first baseman for years. "He's going to be a great addition to our ball club and our rise to the top," vice president and general manager Bobby Cox said at a news conference announcing the signing. "It was a decision that was long coming," said Esasky, a Florida native who lives with his wife and three children in Marietta, Ga., a suburb north of Atlanta.

During the first 4 1/2 months he was with the Boston Red Sox, Nick Esasky fielded as many questions about Pete Rose as he fielded grounders down the first-base line. "Nick, with Pete Rose being in so much trouble, how do you feel about Esasky is a former Cincinnati Red, and, more than that, he is a former Cincinnati Red who gained a certain notoriety last summer as the prime occupant of Rose's managerial doghouse. Now it was 1989, and Rose was in all kinds of trouble.

Collusion II: If $10.5 million seemed a modest price for the owners to pay for their collusion during the winter of 1985-86, the damages seem certain to be higher for 1986-87. The players' association is asking for $60 million. The clubs acknowledge damages of $15 million to $17 million. Milestone: Nick Esasky drove in 36 runs in August, tying the Boston Red Sox record for that month set by Ted Williams in 1939 and equaled by Vern Stephens in 1949. If timing is everything, Esasky has it.