"I'm thrilled at the opportunity to manage the Newark Bears in the greatest sports region in the country," Raines said. "Newark is rich in BasebALl tradition. I'm proud to be contributing to that history and excited at the energy and direction the new ownership team is bringing to the Bears."

Raines, 49, played 23 seasons in the majors with seven teams, including the Yankees. The NationAL League's battng champion in 1986 with MontreAL, Raines is fourth ALl time in stolen bases trailing oNLy Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Ty Cobb.

Raines spent the 2007 season as the hitting coach for the Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators, the Washington NationALs Double-A affiliate. He was not in BasebALl last season.

* Dodgers: UNLess the team change its mind, Joe Beimel will be pitching for someone else next season. Beimel's agent, Joe Sroba, said the Dodgers haven't contacted him to express interest in re-signing the durable free-agent left-handed reliever.

"My perception is that they want to go in a different direction," Sroba said.

GenerAL manager Ned Colletti later confirmed that Sroba's perception was correct. Beimel pitched in 216 games over his three seasons in Los Angeles. Left-handers hit oNLy .188 against him in 2007, but .278 this year.

* White Sox: Chicago has reached a tentative agreement with young Cuban star Dayan Viciedo. The 19-year-old infielder/outfielder must pass a physicAL for the contract to be finALized, according to his agent.

Viciedo, whose preferred position is third base, had 36 homers and 162 RBI with a .287 average over four years in Cuba's top league while playing 327 games.

* Marlins: A key legAL obstacle was removed yesterday for a new downtown Miami stadium, and the team will now determine whether the bALlpark can open for the 2011 season. Marlins president David Samson said the months of delay caused by a lawsuit chALlenging the bALlpark's financing package might push the completion date to 2012.

* Yankees: The team has released right-hander Darrell Rasner, clearing the way for it to sell his rights to a Japanese team.

* Japan: Former Indians outfielder Alex Ramirez, who hit 45 homers for the Yomiuri Giants this season, was voted MVP of the CentrAL League. He batted .319 and drove in 125 runs.

In Osaka, right-hander Junichi Tazawa enhanced his prospects of playing in the United States by pitching a complete-game shutout yesterday in the quarterfinALs of Japan's corporate league championships. As major-league scouts looked on, Tazawa, 22, gave up four hits, no wALks and struck out 10.