ORIOLES RELEASE SLOCUMB: The Baltimore Orioles released reliever Heathcliff Slocumb on Friday, less than 24 hours after he yielded seven runs in one inning and walked off the mound with a 12.46 ERA.PIRATES EXTEND MEARES: Pat Meares' first six games in the National League must have impressed the Pittsburgh Pirates -- they signed him Friday to a $15 million, four-year contract extension.
Meares, who is making $1.5 million this season, will be paid $3.75 million a year from the 2000 through 2003.
BRANTLEY NEEDS SURGERY: Jeff Brantley doesn't know how or when he hurt his shoulder this time. The Philadelphia Phillies closer just knows he needs surgery and probably won't pitch again this season.
Brantley learned Friday that he needs surgery on his torn labrum -- the same type of injury that sidelined him for most of the 1997 season. The only bright spot is that Dr. Craig Morgan told him the injury isn't career-threatening.
WOHLERS TO PITCH IN REHAB: The Cincinnati Reds' effort to rehabilitate closer Mark Wohlers moves to the next stage on Sunday.
The right-hander is to make his first official appearance in the Reds organization when he travels to Toledo to pitch an inning or two for the Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate.
Wohlers, acquired from the Atlanta Braves on April 16 for reliever John Hudek, showed some encouraging signs during a spotty 38-pitch workout under simulated game conditions Thursday in Philadelphia, where the Reds played the Phillies.
TORRE'S RETURN DELAYED: With Joe Torre still too weak to return to the dugout, Don Zimmer remained as the New York Yankees' interim manager Friday night instead of going home to tend to his ailing knee.