WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Jeff Datz was hired as the Cleveland Indians' bench coach Wednesday to replace Grady Little, who left to manage the Boston Red Sox.

Datz, 42, had been the club's field coordinator -- overseeing minor league operations during spring training and the regular season -- since 1999.

He'll now work with manager Charlie Manuel, helping him with the daily duties of running the Indians.

Datz and Eric Wedge, manager of the club's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, were the only candidates interviewed for the bench coach vacancy.

Little was hired by the Red Sox on March 11 after spending two seasons with the Indians.

Datz joined Cleveland's organization in 1991 as an area scout and worked six seasons as a minor league manager. He led Buffalo to the International League title in 1998.

Drafted in the 19th round in 1982 by Houston, Datz caught seven games for the Detroit Tigers in 1989.

Contraction grievance recesses until April 8
NEW YORK -- The grievance by baseball players against contraction recessed until April 8 after Bob DuPuy, baseball's new chief operating officer, completed his second day of testimony Wednesday.

Union lawyers have not yet completed their questioning of DuPuy, who began his testimony Tuesday.

Arbitrator Shyam Das has heard 17 days of testimony from seven witnesses, and the players' association says DuPuy is not its final witness. When the union is done, owners will start presenting their defense.

The union claims the Nov. 6 vote by teams to fold two franchises violated its collective bargaining agreement, which expired the following day.

The Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos were the teams targeted for elimination, management negotiators later told the union, but contraction was blocked for this year when a Minnesota judge issued an injunction forcing the Twins to honor their lease at the Metrodome, which runs through the 2002 season.

Commissioner Bud Selig postponed contraction until next season at the earliest. If Das rules for players in the grievance, the union would seek damages, claiming the attempt to eliminate two teams depressed salaries of free agents.

Phils' Bowa, Rolen had closed-door meeting
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Philadelphia third baseman Scott Rolen and manager Larry Bowa had a closed-door meeting earlier this week.

Though he refused to discuss the matter, Bowa said Monday's conversation in Haines City was positive.

Rolen, a three-time Gold Glove winner, turned down a contract extension that could have been worth up to $140 million, and made it clear he wants to file for free agency after the season.

It was reported last week that Bowa no longer spoke to Rolen, who criticized management and questioned its commitment to winning when he arrived this spring.

Last month, television cameras captured an animated on-field talk between Rolen and Bowa. On Saturday, Rolen and third-base coach John Vukovich had a long and loud discussion.

Indians decided not to pursue Yanks castaway Rivera
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Cleveland Indians considered signing troubled outfielder Ruben Rivera to a contract and even had him meet with their team psychologist before deciding not to pursue a deal.

Rivera was released last week by the New York Yankees for stealing former teammate Derek Jeter's glove and bat from his locker and selling the items to a memorabilia dealer.

While discussing a minor league deal with his agent, the Indians had Rivera speak with Dr. Charles Maher, who has been with the club for seven seasons.

However, the Indians decided not to pursue Rivera.

"At no time did we discuss a major league opportunity," assistant general manager Neal Huntington said. "We factored in everything. His upside, his career record. His track record on and off the field. As we looked at the big picture, we decided we were not going to head in that direction. It never got real serious."

O's close to extension with Conine
The Baltimore Orioles are near a two-year contract extension with a club option for 2005 with outfielder Jeff Conine, the Baltimore Sun reported in Sunday's editions.

The report, citing unnamed sources close to the negotiations, said the deal is worth about $5 million per season.

Team sources told the Sun the deal appeared imminent.

Conine, 35, had 14 home runs and 97 RBI while hitting .311 last season.

A's exercise Hudson's $6 million option for 2005
PHOENIX --Tim Hudson's $6 million option for 2005 was exercised Saturday by the Oakland Athletics.

Hudson went 18-9 with 3.37 ERA last year and has a 49-17 career record with a 3.61 ERA. He's won at least 10 games in each of his three seasons, the first A's pitcher to do so in nine years.

The contract, agreed to in August 2000, included a $100,000 signing bonus and called for salaries of $500,000 in 2001, $850,000 this year, $2.7 million next season and $4.55 million in 2004.

If the option had been declined, Oakland would have owed a $400,000 buyout.

Angels' Wooten to miss four months
Shawn Wooten, who was to platoon with Scott Spiezio at first base for the Anaheim Angels this season, will be sidelined for up to four months due to a separated joint in his right thumb.

Wooten, 29, was injured at the end of the fourth inning in Wednesday's exhibition game against the San Diego Padres. He said he was shielding his eyes from the sun while catching a popup, and once he caught the ball, the momentum carried him to the ground and he landed on his thumb.

"I heard a loud pop," he said.

Wooten, scheduled to have surgery in Southern California next week, said he was told the rehabilitation period for this kind of injury is generally four months.

Wooten hit .312 for the Angels last year with 69 hits in 221 at-bats. He had eight homers and 32 RBI.