Trades Sports

Looking for elements of toughness, the Kings traded defenseman Darryl Sydor and a fifth-round draft pick in 1996 to the Dallas Stars on Saturday for defenseman Doug Zmolek, 25, and right wing Shane Churla, 30. Sydor, who had been the subject of trade rumors recently, had been wildly inconsistent since his promising rookie year when the Kings went to the Stanley Cup finals in 1992-93. King Coach Larry Robinson quickly grew frustrated with him this season, calling him a "time bomb."

The Angels began their winter renovation project--the one involving the team, not the stadium, uniforms or cheerleaders--by trading designated hitter Chili Davis to the Kansas City Royals Monday for veteran pitcher Mark Gubicza and double-A pitcher Mike Bovee. The team has also narrowed its search for a manager, bringing Baltimore batting instructor Rick Down, former Houston manager Terry Collins and former New York Met third-base coach Mike Cubbage back for second interviews.

Disgruntled forward Shawn Kemp, who declared that he'd never play for the Seattle SuperSonics again, got his wish Thursday. Kemp was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-way deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that involved all-star forward Vin Baker of the Bucks and all-star guard Terrell Brandon of the Cavaliers. The SuperSonics acquired Baker, while the Bucks acquired Brandon, forward Tyrone Hill and a conditional 1998 first-round draft pick from Cleveland.

The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings shook up the Pacific Division and their futures Friday, trading a proven star for a potential one in a move that even Don Nelson admits is a gamble. Nelson, who as coach and general manager is largely responsible for building the Warriors with one of the highest-scoring threesomes in NBA history, sent part of that group, Mitch Richmond and his 22.7-point average, to the Kings for the rights to rookie Billy Owens.

Fred Claire has handled scores of deals during his tenure in charge of Dodger player personnel. The longtime executive vice president has made trades big and small--good and bad. But during the past decade, Claire's stamp has been on every deal the Dodgers have done. Until the biggest in franchise history. Claire acknowledged Friday night that he wasn't the point man on the seven-player deal that sent all-star catcher Mike Piazza to the Florida Marlins.

The World Series starts Oct. 22 at Angel Stadium. Or else. The Angels usually speak softly, without carrying a big stick. They got the big stick Tuesday, and they're not shy about telling you why. "We're in it to win a world championship," General Manager Tony Reagins said. Talk isn't cheap, not this time.

A three-way NBA deal Monday began with the Washington Bullets trading guard Jeff Malone and a draft pick to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for center Pervis Ellison. The Kings then traded Malone and a draft pick to the Utah Jazz for Bobby Hansen, Eric Leckner and two draft picks. The Kings received a second-round pick in 1991 from the Bullets and the two choices from the Jazz are in Wednesday's draft--the 23rd, a first-rounder, and 49th.

With four teams impatiently waiting for answers, the Dodgers were still alive late Wednesday night in what had become a complicated search for a shortstop and a relief pitcher. During the course of a long day and night at the winter baseball meetings, the Oakland Athletics' Alfredo Griffin had seemed to supplant the New York Mets' Rafael Santana and the Toronto Blue Jays' Manny Lee as the shortstop that the Dodgers most covet, with the A's, Mets and Blue Jays all pursuing Bob Welch.

Completing an expected deal, the Dodgers on Wednesday ended their brief and stormy relationship with Bobby Bonilla, sending the veteran infielder-outfielder and $1 million to the New York Mets for pitcher Mel Rojas. On the third day of the general managers' meetings here, the Dodgers and Mets swapped players they had been discussing trading for several weeks, paving the way for Adrian Beltre to start at third base for the Dodgers next season.