BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Sanders Returns, to the Dismay of Nixon

Deion Sanders was back in the lineup Saturday, and that apparently started a minor flap in the Atlanta Braves’ clubhouse.

Otis Nixon, Atlanta’s starting center fielder for most of the season, was not happy to find out that he was on the bench and that Sanders was leading off and playing center against the New York Mets.

“What the hell is this? The guy has been away a month, and he’s taking my job from me?” Nixon said before the game.

Sanders left the team on April 29, one day after his father’s funeral, and was put on the disqualified list. The Braves reinstated Sanders on Tuesday and he played two games in extended spring training before joining the team Friday.

Sanders agreed to a three-year, $11-million contract on Friday, but he didn’t play against the Mets that night. He was hitless during a 6-1 loss Saturday.

“He looked fine for not having played except at Palm Beach,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “He looked just fine. He hit one ball real good to center.”

Cox did not seem worried about Nixon’s displeasure.

“Otis is a great guy on our club,” Cox said. “He wants to play every day, and I don’t fault him for that.”

Told that Nixon wants something to be done about the situation, Cox said: “He’s not a distraction. You can win with any three (outfielders) out there. It makes no difference.”