BASEBALL

METS SIGN DOMINICAN TEEN TO $1.4 MILLION DEAL

The Mets have signed a 16-year-old outfielder in one of the richest deals for a prospect from the Dominican Republic. Fernando Martinez got a $1.4 million contract last week, even though he can’t play in the United States until he turns 18.

Even with his lucrative deal, Martinez said he wants to attend college and study business administration. The Mets included $100,000 to pay for his studies as part of the package.

Because of his arm strength, a number of scouts had expressed interest in Martinez, comparing him to fellow Dominicans Raul Mondesi and Jose Guillen. The Mets have a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic and a team in the Dominican summer league. The training complex in San Cristobal is in operation all year long.

Also yesterday, the Mets announced the signing of 16-year-old right-hander Deolis Guerra of Venezuela.

BROWN, WRIGHT THROW FROM PRACTICE MOUNDS

Yankees pitcher Kevin Brown threw off a mound yesterday for the first time since being sidelined by a back injury last month. Brown, who has chronic back trouble, went on the disabled list for the 13th time in his career June 18. The righthander’s throwing session lasted 10 minutes and 40 pitches. The Yankees are hopeful Brown could rejoin the rotation next week.

Meanwhile, Jaret Wright said he felt good after his third mound session in the past week. He threw for 15 minutes and 45 pitches and is to work off the mound again Thursday. The right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 24, one day after leaving his start against Texas because of pain in his shoulder. In four starts this season, Wright is 2-2 with a 9.15 ERA. He might be ready to pitch in the majors next month. This is the eighth time Wright has been on the disabled list in his nine-year career, and the sixth time because of a shoulder problem.

TWINS ACQUIRE BOONE

Three-time All-Star second baseman Bret Boone, 36, was acquired by the Minnesota Twins yesterday, eight days after being designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners, who had 10 days to trade Boone, will also send cash to the Twins in exchange for a player to be named. Boone’s salary for this season is $8.25 million. He was designated for assignment by Seattle on July 3 in a disappointing end to his career there.

A 12-year veteran with 252 career homers, Boone was batting .231 with seven homers and 34 RBI for the struggling Mariners when he was cut. In 2001, Boone hit .331 with 37 home runs and 141 RBI. He finished third in the AL MVP vote that year, but he has steadily declined at the plate since then.

BOROWSKI JOINS DEVIL RAYS

Former Chicago Cubs reliever Joe Borowski agreed to a contract yesterday with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and will join the last-place team after the All-Star break. The 34-year-old saved 33 games for the Cubs in 2003, helping them make the playoffs. He appeared in 11 games this season and was 0-0 with a 6.55 ERA before being designated for assignment when the Cubs activated Kerry Wood on June 29.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

BCS UNVEILS NEW POLL The Bowl Championship Series has a new poll, one that begins a month into the college football season and will include former coaches and players, plus media members. Called the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, it will rank the top 25 teams on a weekly basis, starting September 25. Plans call for 114 voters.

The BCS has said it would like to see the elimination of preseason polls, which some believe give highly touted teams an unfair head start in the rankings. The season’s first BCS standings will be released October 17.

The new poll replaces the Associated Press poll, which the BCS had used in its formula for ranking teams since 1998. Last season, however, the AP told the BCS it could no longer use its media poll. Recently, ESPN pulled out of participating in the coaches poll.

In addition to the new poll, the BCS will continue to use the USA Today coaches’ poll and a compilation of six computer rankings – each counting for one-third of a team’s grade. The coaches will continue with a preseason ballot. The coaches agreed to have their final ballots made public for the first time this season. The new Harris poll will take the same approach, releasing only the final ballots.

TENNIS

GRAF TO RETURN TO COURT WITH HOUSTON WRANGLERS

Steffi Graf is returning to the tennis court for the first time in six years, but don’t call it a comeback. The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion is interrupting her retirement today to play with the Houston Wranglers of the World Team Tennis Pro League.

Today’s match is Graf’s only one this season as a member of the Wranglers. Houston will take on the Sacramento Capitals – led by Anna Kournikova – at Houston’s Westside Tennis Club.

The 36-year-old German, who won 107 singles titles in her career, said the generosity that Wranglers owners Jim and Linda McIngvale have shown to her and husband Andre Agassi’s foundations over the years was a major factor in her decision to play again.

SOCCER

BECKHAM, RONALDO TO LEAD MADRID ON U.S. TOUR

England’s David Beckham and Michael Owen, and Brazil’s Ronaldo will headline the roster for Real Madrid on its U.S. tour. The 24-man roster for the nine-time European club champion’s games against Mexican power Chivas of Guadalajara in Chicago on Saturday and the Los Angeles Galaxy in Carson, Calif., on Monday will also include Spain’s Raul, Portugal’s Luis Figo, and Brazil’s Roberto Carlos. Uruguayan internationals Carlos Diogo and Pablo Garcia will make their debut with Madrid.

Real Madrid will face CD Guadalajara at Soldier Field and face a Major League Soccer team for the first time with it takes on the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.

GOLF

WIE FADES AT AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS Michelle Wie faded down the stretch again and shot a 6-over 76 on the first day of stroke play at the men’s Amateur Public Links yesterday. Playing in front of a huge gallery, the 15-year-old tied for 84th in the 156-player field. The lowest 64 scorers over 36 holes of medal play – the second 18 is today – move on to match play on Wednesday.

Wie, who won the 2003 Women’s Amateur Public Links, is playing in the men’s APL because the winner traditionally gets an invitation to the Masters. She just missed the cut at the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic last week, finding trouble on the final few holes. It was more of the same yesterday. She shot a 41 on the back nine.

– Associated Press