Jeff Shaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers' career leader in saves, has said he plans to retire, the Los Angeles Daily News reported yesterday.
Joe Bick, the pitcher's agent, said just about the same thing from his Cincinnati office.
"Probably the only way Jeff would play is if we could do a contract with a club that is close to his home here in Ohio," Bick told the Associated Press. "At this point in time, I see no reason to be optimistic about that happening."
After last season, the Dodgers declined to exercise Shaw's $7.05 million option for this year, instead paying a $1.5 million buyout.
Bick said he had talked to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, but that they had shown no interest.
Traded to the Dodgers by Cincinnati on July 4, 1998, Shaw went 3-5 with a 3.62 earned run average and a career-high 43 saves in 52 chances last season, when he earned $6 million.
Mariners. Seattle finalized a one-year contract with righthander James Baldwin. Baldwin, 30, split last season between the White Sox and the Dodgers, going 10-11.
In the rotation, Baldwin will replace Aaron Sele, who was 15-5 last season and 32-15 during three years in Seattle, but whom the Mariners opted not to re-sign.
Giants. Veteran broadcaster Tim McCarver will join San Francisco for about 25 Major League Baseball telecasts this season, the team said.
McCarver, a former Phillies catcher and broadcaster, was not included when the New York Yankees put together a team for the new Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network.
Jurisprudence. Former major-league third baseman Ken Caminiti pleaded not guilty to drug-possession charges in Houston.
Caminiti was arrested Oct. 14. He will appear in court Feb. 27.
