Former star Hershiser leaves Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orel Hershiser is leaving his front-office job with the Rangers less than three months after he resigned as the team's pitching coach.

After 31/2 seasons as pitching coach, Hershiser in November became an executive assistant to Rangers president Jeff Cogen.

Hershiser interviewed last fall with the Dodgers about their manager and general manager openings. He spent parts of 13 of his 18 major league seasons in Los Angeles, including 1988 when he set a major league record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings and was the NL Cy Young Award winner. The Dodgers won the World Series that year.

Hershiser joined the Rangers in November 2001 as an associate to former general manager John Hart. He had no prior coaching experience when he replaced the fired Oscar Acosta as the team's pitching coach in June 2002.

Manager Buck Showalter retained Hershiser as pitching coach when he was hired after the 2002 season. Bullpen coach Mark Connor replaced Hershiser as pitching coach last fall.

Hershiser's post-Rangers plan was not known.

In other news, outfielder Kevin Mench agreed to a $2.8-million contract with the Rangers, and can earn an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses.

GIANTS PARK TO CHANGE NAME, AGAIN: San Francisco's ballpark is changing its name to AT&T Park beginning in March. That gives the stadium its third identity since the ballpark opened in 2000 and follows SBC Communications Inc.'s acquisition of AT&T Corp. in November. SBC changed its name to AT&T after the merger. The Giants stadium was originally called Pacific Bell Park and was later renamed SBC Park.

AVOIDING ARBITRATION: Astros All-Star third baseman Morgan Ensberg and Baltimore outfielder Luis Matos agreed to one-year contracts to avoid salary arbitration. Ensberg will receive $3.8-million and Matos signed for $1.625-million. Sixteen players remain in arbitration, with hearings scheduled through Feb. 20.

[Last modified February 4, 2006, 00:32:20]