By ALEX NUSSBAUM, STAFF WRITER

Amid chants of "U-S-A," dockworkers, truck drivers and politicians made clear
Monday that they don't want Port Newark run by a company controlled by the Arab
emirate of Dubai.

"We wouldn't transfer the title to the devil, and we're not going to transfer it
to Dubai!" U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg thundered to the crowd of longshoremen and
Teamsters gathered at the port.

The rally came as the U.S. Senate released a Coast Guard report that said the
agency couldn't tell whether Dubai Ports World was a security risk.

On Sunday, the company asked the United States to conduct a more thorough,
45-day review of the deal, but the controversy over its proposed takeover of
operations at Newark and five other American ports seemed far from over.

Before the release of the Coast Guard report, Republican leaders in Congress
signaled that they would turn down the heat as a result of the company's request
and avoid a potential confrontation with the White House.

New Jersey lawmakers, however, weren't as accommodating. An Assembly panel
approved a bill that would block foreign governments from controlling shipping
terminals. The approval came despite complaints by Arab-American groups that
politicians' attacks on the Persian Gulf company had gone too far.

"The language they've used is shameful, irresponsible, hateful, bigoted and
downright false," said Sherine El-Abd of Clifton, chairwoman of the state Arab
American Republican Caucus. "Smearing all things Arab remains the last
acceptable form of ethnic bigotry in America."

Dubai Ports, which is controlled by officials in the United Arab Emirates, was
due to take over operations at ports in Newark, New York City and four other
cities on Friday.

Critics of the deal point out that the U.A.E., which includes Dubai, produced
two of the Sept. 11 hijackers and was the site of some planning and financing
for the attacks. It also has been a transfer point for illegal shipments of
nuclear material, they say. President Bush, however, says the U.A.E. has been an
ally in the war on terror since then.

Bush said a week ago that a new 45-day probe was unnecessary because the
administration had already vetted the deal. But Bush spokesman Scott McClellan
said Monday that the administration was glad Dubai Ports had sought the review.

"The additional time and investigation at the request of the company will
provide Congress with a better understanding of the facts," he said. "Congress
will be comfortable with the transaction moving forward once it does."

Senate bills planned

At the Port Newark rally, however, more than 100 union workers had a more
skeptical view. They said the deal should be scrapped.

Lautenberg and U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Charles Schumer of New
York -- all Democrats -- said they would still introduce bills to postpone the
deal and give Congress a chance to veto it.

"I don't want a foreign government telling me that, 'We did the security checks.
Trust us,' " Menendez said. "I say trust, but verify."

That went over well with the laborers who, clad in a sea of orange safety vests,
cheered the speakers as soaring cranes swung shipping containers in the
distance.

"It's really important to show support for the fact that we're at war with
terrorists, and [Dubai] is a country with terrorist ties," said Steve Guarriello
of Emerson, a mechanic.

He was unmoved by White House assurances.

"Did they check out the money they gave to the two guys that smashed into our
buildings?" he asked.

"The president of the United States tells us to watch out for terrorists every
night," John Bowers, president of the International Longshoremen's Association,
yelled to the crowd. "How the hell could he sell these six ports to a foreign
country, especially a foreign country that flew the planes in the World Trade
Center and killed 3,000 people?"

In an interview later, Lautenberg and Menendez insisted there was nothing
prejudiced about their opposition. They support legislation to block any foreign
company or country from controlling American ports, they said.

"It's not anti-Arab," Lautenberg said. "It's anti-enemy."

Arab Americans upset

Arab Americans, however, complained in Trenton to the Assembly's Homeland
Security Committee about the tenor of the debate.

Aref Assaf, president of the Morris County-based American Arab Forum, said the
attacks on the port deal send a chilling message to the U.A.E. and other Middle
Eastern allies. Fostering business ties with friendly countries in the region
would help America, he said.

"If the deal is nullified or obstructed, we will send a clear statement to the
Arab world: America is xenophobic; Arabs need not to apply to the modern world,"
Assaf said.

The committee nonetheless approved its own ban on foreign governments running
maritime facilities owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The measure still needs to pass the full Legislature and also would need the
approval of New York State.

New Jersey has already sued the federal government to obtain more information
about the port transfer, and the Port Authority has gone to court to block the
deal. Court hearings in both cases are scheduled for later in the week.

Report causes concern

The White House's attempts to build support for the deal, meanwhile, were
undercut by the undated Coast Guard report.

Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the agency cautioned the Bush
administration that it was unable to determine whether Dubai Ports World might
support terrorist operations, the Senate panel said.

The port operations are now handled by Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation
Co., a British company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O
assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat
assessment," the Coast Guard reported.

"The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats
against a large number of potential vulnerabilities," it adds.

Sen. Susan Collins, chairwoman of the Homeland Security Committee, released
an unclassified version of the document during a briefing Monday.

The document raised questions about the security of the companies' operations,
the backgrounds of all personnel working for the companies and whether other
foreign countries influenced operations that affect security.

"This report suggests there were significant and troubling intelligence gaps,"
said Collins, a Maine Republican. "That language is very troubling to me."

Staff Writer Mitchel Maddux contributed to this article, which also contains
material from The Associated Press. E-mail: nussbaum@northjersey.com

Copyright © 2006 North Jersey Media Group Inc.

Popular TV show gives Maine potatoes a plug
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 2:30 am
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine - Homer Simpson as a pitchman for Maine potatoes?

In an apparent surprise to the industry, the nation«s best-known cartoon glutton
endorsed Maine spuds during an episode of Fox«s "The Simpsons" that aired Sunday
night in prime time.

The gag, which lasted 4 seconds or so, showed various tattoo advertisements on
Homer«s ample body, including a message on one arm that read "Eat Maine
Potatoes." Homer, who was in bed, told his wife Marge that it was a reminder. He
then reached into a bag of "Maine Potatoes" and started munching on one.

When asked by the Portland Press Herald about why "The Simpsons" featured the
plug for Maine potatoes, Fox spokeswoman Jill Hudson provided a quote from
Executive Producer Al Jean: "All of the Simpsons writers are huge fans of Maine
potatoes."

Despite the increasing use of product placements in TV and movies, Maine Potato
Board Executive Director Donald Flannery insisted that his promotional group had
nothing to do with the animated plug.

"No, no, nope. No - it's nothing we paid for," Flannery said. "We never had
anything to do with that. I guess I'm going to have to get a copy of it."

Fox said the show draws about 9.7 million viewers in the 18 to 49-year-old
range, and Flannery said there was bound to be an unquantifiable benefit to his
industry.

"Any time you can get that kind of recognition for any product, it's
substantial," said Flannery. "People who never heard of a Maine potato will say,
'Geez Maine has potatoes.'"

The industry-funded potato board has a total budget of less than $1 million,
according to Flannery, with about $200,000 earmarked for advertising in regional
media. Bigger producers states like Washington will spend about $8 million
plugging their spuds, he said.

University of Southern Maine marketing Professor Nancy Artz suggested that
unless the show's target audience is not the right one for Maine potatoes, the
state's biggest agricultural industry certainly stands to benefit from the plug.

"They picked an iconic product," said Artz. "You think potatoes and you either
think Maine or Idaho."

On Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:16 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the population here on
this good Earth is projected to hit 6.5 billion people.

Along with this forecast, an analysis by the International Programs Center at
the U.S. Census Bureau points to another factoid, Robert Bernstein of the
Bureau's Public Information Center advised LiveScience. Mark this on your
calendar: Some six years from now, on Oct. 18, 2012 at 4:36 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time, the Earth will be home to 7 billion folks.

These are estimates, of course, but clear trends emerge from the data behind
them.

Population profile

A report issued by the Bureau in March 2004 noted that world population hit the
6-billion mark in June 1999. "This figure is over 3.5 times the size of the
Earth's population at the beginning of the 20th century and roughly double its
size in 1960," the study explained.

Even more striking is that the time required for the global population to grow
from 5 billion to 6 billion-just a dozen years-was shorter than the interval
between any of the previous billions.

On average, 4.4 people are born every second.

The population on Earth today is nearly four times the number in 1900. Behind
that phenomenal global increase is a vast gulf in birth and death rates among
the world's countries. But according to population experts, this gulf is not a
simple divide that perpetuates the status quo among the have and have-not
nations.

Birth dearth

"What is worrisome about this demographic divide is not the differences among
nations' population growth rates, but the disparities associated with these
trends ... disparities in living standards, health, and economic prospects,"
explained Mary Kent, co-author along with Carl Haub, of a Population Reference
Bureau report issued last month titled "Global Demographic Divide."

Kent, editor of the Population Bulletin, and Haub, a senior demographer at the
Population Reference Bureau, reported that news of declining population in
Europe fueled concern about a global "birth dearth," but there is continuing
population growth in developing countries. The question, they asked, is which
demographic trend is the world facing?

"The reality is that both trends are occurring," Haub said. "The dramatic
fertility decline during the 20th century coincided with improved health, access
to family planning, economic development, and urbanization."

Kent and Haub also reported that most countries will experience population
growth through 2050, as the world adds a projected 3 billion more people to the
total.

Remarkably, despite the many new developments over the past 50 years, one fact
looks very much the same, explained Kent and Haub: Populations are growing most
rapidly where such growth can be afforded the least-an observation that has
changed little over time, they said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection bear responsibility for checking ALL cargo throughout ALL U.S. ports. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for general port security. Terminal operators have no control or say over security.

More than half of terminal operators at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex are foreign-owned, including companies from China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Denmark.

The operations on the docks will be by the same workers as are working now. It's not like a bunch of Arabs are coming in to take over the jobs. The only difference will be a new logo on the workers' payroll checks.

U.S. officials will have access to company records -- without subpoena -- and background information on DP World employees and managers working in the U.S. The assurances lock in requirements that had previously been only voluntary commitments on the part of DP World and P&O.

DP World has a reputation as one of the most efficient port operators in the world.

There are unlikely to be any job cuts as P&O will be run as a separate business. There is very little overlap between the operations of the two companies.

US assets represent less than 10% of P&O's portfolio.

DP World's chief operating officer, Edward H. Bilkey, is an American.

Former Majority Leader / former Viagra pitchman Bob Dole is the main lobbyist for DP World.

One of DP World's top executives, David Sanborn, was nominated by George W. Bush to become the administrator of the Maritime Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation.

DP World purchased the global port assets of U.S. freight rail company CSX Corporation in 2005. Nobody complained then.

Current U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow is a former chairman of CSX.

Two of the eleven September 11 hijackers were UAE Nationals.

About half of the money used to finance the attacks was wired to al-Qaida terrorists in America from Dubai banks.

Last year, the Dubai government bought $1 billion of DaimlerChrysler shares.

Jumeirah, the luxury hotel group based in Dubai, last month completed its acquisition of the Essex House, the 515-room hotel on Central Park South in Manhattan.

Last year Dubai International Capital announced it was buying Tussauds Group, which runs Madame Tussauds wax museum and the London Eye ferris wheel, for 1.4 billion dollars.

Last year Dubai-based Istithmar investment holding company acquired one of New York's most famous landmark buildings - 230 Park Avenue in Manhattan, also known as the Helmsley Building, a 34-story gold-domed office block which sits at the top of Park Avenue, in a $705 million deal.

Early last year, Istithmar also purchased One Trafalgar Square in London, paying $273 million for the prestigious office block in the heart of the UK capital.

Last month Istithmar purchased 109 million shares, or 2.39 percent, of Time Warner Inc. for $2 billion.

Leggy blonde beauty Mischa Barton, 20, insists that rampant rumors of an
engagement to boyfriend Cisco Adler are not true.

Just 18 months ago, Whitestarr rocker Adler was engaged to Rod Stewart's
daughter, Kimberley, who said of new fiance at the time:

"He's my best friend, my lover, my soulmate - he really is my everything." She
even had a tattoo done, declaring her love for Cisco and her rock star dad,
saying: 'Daddy's Little Girl Loves Cisco'.

What does this mournful looking guy have that we don't know about?

According to published reports, the OC star and her rocker beau have only been
dating for five months, but everyone nonetheless can't leave the subject of
impending nuptials alone.

Adler says, "It (an engagement) is not true. The love is young!"

The Whitestarr lead singer is said to be wearing a lock necklace that only
Barton has the keys to, which she wears around her neck.

In recent news, the lovely Mischa's career is looking to the heights, as she is
apparently at the top of a list of candidates to bring Supergirl back to the big
screen.

"If Superman Returns does as well as expected this summer then Supergirl will be
pushed into the schedule," reveals one movie insider. "There are a few
actresses in the reckoning and Mischa is at the top of that list."

New Station-Friendly Primetime Option Set for September

Primetime Dramas "Desire" and "Secrets" to Inaugurate My Network TV Debut

NEW YORK Ð February 22, 2006 - FOX will launch My Network TV, a new primetime
program network scheduled to debut this fall. Fox Television Stations, Inc., and
Twentieth Television will operate the new venture. The announcement was made
today at a press conference in New York by Peter Chernin, President and Chief
Operating Officer, News Corporation; Roger Ailes, Chairman of Fox Television
Stations; and Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations.

Upon launching on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, My Network TV will feature
quality primetime programming from 8:00-10:00pm (EST/PST) Monday through
Saturday, totaling 12 hours of original content per week. Providing broadcasters
a viable and station-friendly option for primetime, involving no reverse
compensation, My Network TV will position stations with operational flexibility
through an appealing affiliation term and attractive inventory split, further
building asset value.

Fox Television Stations' WWOR/New York, KCOP/Los Angeles, WPWR/Chicago,
KDFI/Dallas, WDCA/Washington, D.C., KTXH/Houston, WFTC/Minneapolis,
KUTP/Phoenix, WRBW/ Orlando and WUTB/Baltimore will serve as anchor affiliates
of My Network TV, representing 24% of the United States. Supported with powerful
branding and marketing initiatives that tie-in locally, the service will
maintain and strengthen affiliates' community brand recognition with a complete
look and feel of a national network that empowers localism.

Regarding the announcement, Mr. Chernin stated, ÒNo other media company comes
close to Fox when it comes to launching new networks and gauging audience
appetites. Over the past 20 years, we've proved it time and again with FBC, FX,
Fox News Channel and National Geographic Channel among many others. And with My
Network TV, we think we've come up with a unique format that will resonate with
today's consumer and a model that can be profitable from day one."

Mr. Ailes added, "Backed by the strongest media company in the world, My Network
TV is a viable alternative brought to you by proven winners who know quality
programming. Independent stations are in need of a solid option for primetime
and we believe no other company is providing this service to the market."

Commented Mr. Abernethy, "We're thrilled to be launching My Network TV this
fall. We consider this to be a station-friendly alternative that will deliver
more local inventory to its affiliates, uphold each station's localism and
feature quality programming supported by strong branding and marketing. We are
looking forward to signing additional affiliates in the coming weeks."

Twentieth Television's new hour-long scripted dramas "Desire" and "Secrets" will
inaugurate My Network TV. Structured in a 65-episode story arc stripped Monday
through Friday for 13 weeks, "Desire" and "Secrets" are based on the worldwide
success of the telenovela format. "Desire" chronicles the destruction of a
family and the bonds of brotherhood take center stage when two brothers on the
run from the mafia find themselves in a heated battle of passion, betrayal,
deceit and murder over the woman they both love. "Secrets" goes deep
behind-the-scenes to focus on the glamorous, yet sometimes brutally ruthless
fashion industry, in which greed, lust and blind ambition surround a violent
corporate takeover of the business' hottest company. Principal photography on
the dramas will commence early March.

Twentieth Television is aggressively developing additional programs and proven
formats spanning reality, drama, comedy, game, news, movies and talk for My
Network TV as the network develops, while also exploring opportunities with its
sister companies. The company is opening its doors to all other major Hollywood
studios to negotiate future programming concepts. Programs currently in
development include:

- "Catwalk" (Twentieth Television) -- The ultimate search for the next "It"
supermodel begins by crossing the country to discover 30 of the hottest, hippest
and freshest faces who will compete for the once in a lifetime opportunity to be
catapulted into stardom.

- "Celebrity Love Island" [Granada ("Nanny 911")] -- Six gorgeous celebrity and
six non-celebrity singletons are thrown together in a fantasy island setting,
where a star-studded search for love takes place.

- "On Scene" (Fox News) -- This crime investigative series will cover all
angles, examine all of the evidence and trace every single clue of the most
compelling crimes committed today.

- "America's Brainiest" (working title) [Celador ("Who Wants to Be A
Millionaire")] -- This quiz show, based on the hit British program, will find
the country's smartest individuals and reveal them in an exciting format.

- In addition, Twentieth Television is in advanced negotiations with
FremantleMedia North America ("American Idol") on an international format.

I think I'll go to Boston...
I think I'll start a new life.
I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name.
I'll get out of California, I'm tired of the weather,
I think I'll get a lover and fly them out to Spain.
I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired.
I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind.
I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset,
I hear it's nice in the Summer, some snow would be nice.
Boston...where no one knows my name...

WASHINGTON - Over the years, new House Majority Leader John Boehner has built a
political empire with similarities to the fundraising machine of the man he's
replacing, Rep. Tom DeLay.

The Ohio congressman, who won an upset victory for the House GOP's No. 2 post,
has distributed roughly $2.9 million to Republicans from his political action
committee since 1996, according to the campaign finance Web site Political Money
Line. Some of the recipients this week returned the favor in voting for him.

Boehner (pronounced BAY-nur) is an avid golfer with a perpetual tan, and, like
DeLay, he has played host at many fundraising golf outings. Some of his staff
members, following the career path of those who worked for DeLay, have become
Washington lobbyists.

Boehner, 56, was characterized as an agent for change by Republican supporters
who elected him over Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri. But like DeLay and Blunt,
Boehner has connections to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

He accepted at least $30,000 in political donations from Abramoff's tribal
clients between the 2000 election cycle and 2004.

In addition, billing records from the Northern Mariana Islands, a former
Abramoff client, show at least 17 contacts between members of Abramoff's
Marianas lobbying team and Boehner's office - one with Boehner himself.

The contacts took place between February 1996 and August 2001. One of the
lobbyists was David Safavian, who later became the Bush administration's chief
procurement official and recently was indicted on charges of obstructing
investigations of his ties to Abramoff. Safavian was the first administration
official indicted in the Abramoff scandal.

Boehner spokesman Don Seymour Jr. said his boss had no relationship with
Abramoff, never took money from him, and recalled meeting him only once - a
"brief, incidental conversation at a widely attended event" about five years
ago.

Seymour said the actions that led to the indictment of Safavian took place years
after his reported contacts with Boehner's staff.

The spokesman added that if the contacts in the billing records took place, they
"were most likely mundane conversations that took place between midlevel Boehner
staff members and junior members of Abramoff's lobbying team."

The Mariana records are at odds with the assertion that the contacts were all
with midlevel staff members. Two contacts in 1996, according to the records,
were with Barry Jackson - a top Boehner aide who served as the congressman's
chief of staff.

The congressman told reporters Friday that he has good relations with lobbyists
and that there's nothing wrong with that.

"I can tell you that everything I've ever done is aboveboard, ethical, and every
action I've taken during my entire political career has been in the best
interest of my constituents and the American people," he said.

"We first need to remember that those involved in the Abramoff scandal - several
members on both sides of the aisle that have been involved in problems -
violated federal law and House rules. And I think we've got to focus in on
punishing those that violate the rules," he said.

Boehner, elected to the House in 1990, began his career as a reformer. Taking
office amid a House banking scandal, he joined six other freshmen in demanding
the identities of the more than 300 House members who intentionally wrote
penalty-free overdrafts at the now-defunct House members' bank. Democratic
leaders, then in the majority, wanted to identify only the worst abusers of the
system.

Only a few years later, Boehner was caught handing out tobacco industry money on
the House floor. He apologized, then went on building his political empire.

It is fueled in part by special interests, some of them benefiting from his
legislative clout as chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Among the beneficiaries: private student lenders and for-profit colleges.

Boehner took in about $630,000 in contributions to his campaign and $850,000 to
his PAC last year. His campaign received much of its PAC money from financial
institutions, insurers and retail businesses, all of them in sync with Boehner's
legislative goals.

Boehner has traveled extensively courtesy of special interests. He has taken
more than three dozen privately financed trips since 2000 to overseas
destinations such as Rome, Venice, Paris and Edinburgh, and to domestic resort
spots including Boca Raton, Fla., and Pebble Beach, Calif., the latter known for
its championship golf and spectacular Pacific Ocean views.

Each year in Ohio, he sponsors the Boehner Birdie Hunt, which has incorporated
as many as four different golf courses on the same day.

"As John's playing partner or whatever you choose ... you become an integral
part of the 'driving' force behind John's campaign and political efforts," a
past fundraising appeal on his campaign Web site says.

Business groups that have assisted Boehner's fundraising praise his legislative
work.

"I want to commend you for your leadership," a National Federation of
Independent Business official wrote Boehner in 2004, thanking him for his
support of legislation to revise the nation's workplace safety law and aid small
businesses in fighting what they called burdensome regulations.

NFIB's PAC gave $10,000 to Boehner's campaign last year.

The student lender Sallie Mae's employees together are the top overall donors to
Boehner's PAC since 1989, giving at least $120,000, an analysis by the
nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics campaign finance watchdog group
found.

Boehner's daughter, Tricia, works for General Revenue Corp., a loan-collection
company owned by Sallie Mae. She was there for two years before Sallie Mae
purchased the company.

The liquor industry has given Boehner's campaign and PAC at least $200,000 since
1989. The lawmaker, in House floor remarks, has praised the industry's efforts
to fight underage drinking and drunken driving.

Boehner's support for the insurance industry included a staple of the GOP
platform: limiting lawsuits against the health care industry.

"We don't need a trial lawyers' bill of rights," Boehner has said.

Insurers have given Boehner's campaign and PAC close to $1 million since 1989.

(Feb. 2) -- The Walt Disney Co. and Pixar Animation Studios Inc. have agreed to
extend their current distribution agreement to include Pixar's 2007 release,
"Ratatouille," a deal that will be moot if Disney's proposed acquisition of
Pixar closes this summer as expected.

The two companies negotiated what amounts to a one-picture extension as a
fail-safe measure in case the acquisition doesn't happen.

"This is a deal that Disney and Pixar negotiated independent of the proposed
merger to handle the distribution of 'Ratatouille' until such time as the
transaction closes," Pixar said Thursday in a statement.

Pixar would finance all the production costs of "Ratatouille" and pay Disney a
straight distribution fee under the new deal, according to a regulatory filing.
Pixar would also own the film.

The extension differs from the current arrangement, where Disney and Pixar split
the production costs and the profits, and share ownership of the copyright.

The animated movie is about a rat named Ratatouille who lives in an upscale
Parisian restaurant run by an eccentric chef, according to the Internet Movie
Database.

ARRIVALS:
RHP Josh Beckett (trade with Florida)
3B Mike Lowell (trade with Florida)
RHP Guillermo Mota (trade with Florida)*
RHP Jermaine Van Buren (trade with the Cubs)
2B Mark Loretta (trade with San Diego)
3B Andy Marte (trade with Atlanta)
C Ken Huckaby (free agent from Toronto)
RHP Rudy Seanez (free agent from San Diego)
C John Flaherty (free agent from the Yankees)
1B J.T. Snow (free agent from San Francisco)
RHP Julian Tavarez (free agent from St. Louis)
INF/OF Willie Harris (free agent from the White Sox)
OF Coco Crisp (trade with Cleveland)
RHP David Riske (trade with Cleveland)
C Josh Bard (trade with Cleveland)

DEPARTURES:
SS Hanley Ramirez (traded to Florida)
RHP Anibal Sanchez (traded to Florida)
RHP Jesus Delgado (traded to Florida)
RHP Harvey Garcia (traded to Florida)
LHP Mike Stanton (free agent, signed with Washington)
OF Adam Hyzdu (released, signed with Texas)
RHP Chad Harville (refused minor league assignment, signed with Tampa Bay)
RHP Jeremi Gonzalez (refused minor league assignment, signed with the Mets)
1B John Olerud (retired)
C Doug Mirabelli (traded to San Diego)
SS Edgar Renteria (traded to Atlanta)
LHP Mike Myers (free agent, signed with the Yankees)
3B Bill Mueller (free agent, signed with the Dodgers)
OF Johnny Damon (free agent, signed with the Yankees)
RHP Chad Bradford (free agent, signed with the Mets)
RHP Matt Mantei (free agent, signed with Detroit)
1B Kevin Millar (free agent, signed with Baltimore)
RHP Wade Miller (free agent, signed with the Cubs)
3B Andy Marte (traded to Cleveland)
RHP Guillermo Mota (traded to Cleveland)
C Kelly Shoppach (traded to Cleveland)