BASEBALL NOTES

Pitcher John Burkett’s $4.2-million option for next year was declined by the Texas Rangers. Burkett will receive a $450,000 buyout. . . . The Boston Red Sox declined to exercise a $3-million option on pitcher Pat Rapp, deciding instead to pay him $250,000 to buy out his contract. . . . The Oakland Athletics decided to keep Kevin Appier, exercising his $5.2-million option. . . . The Tampa Bay Devil Rays declined a $3-million option on Paul Sorrento, instead paying a $250,000 buyout to the first baseman. . . . The Colorado Rockies declined a $1.25-million option on catcher Kirt Manwaring, instead paying a $250,000 buyout.

*

On the eve of a meeting organized by umpires trying to get rid of Richie Phillips, six umpires loyal to the union leader filed a defamation suit in Philadelphia against colleagues trying to start a new union.

NL umpires Jerry Crawford, Gerry Davis, Steve Rippley, Terry Tata and AL umpires Drew Coble and Richie Garcia filed the suit against AL umps Joe Brinkman, John Hirschbeck, Dave Phillips and Tim Welke.

The six umpires and Pilot Air Freight Corp., a company controlled by the union head, accused the dissidents of falsely accusing Pilot of paying umpires to support Phillips.