Three-Team Move May Be Stopped

After moving from Anaheim to Pittsburgh to New York within an hour, California Angels' first baseman Jason Thompson has learned he may not be going anywhere at all.

The Angels, who, like the Red Sox, are looking for a catcher, dealt Thompson to the Pirates last night in exchange for receiver Ed Ott and pitcher Mickey Mahler. Pittsburgh then sent the 16-year-old slugger to the Yankees, receiving former golden-glove first baseman Jim Spencer and minor-league pitchers Greg Cochran and Fred Tolliver.

But shortly after the deal was completed, Commissioner Bowle Kuhn announced he was blocking the transaction pending an investigation this morning. The reason for the investigation has not yet been disclosed. Kuhn's edit applies to both Thompson trades, so the .228 hitter will remain--for now, at least--in Anaheim.

All three organizations have protested Kuhn's ruling, with a Pirate spokesman saying that the make-up of the trade is certainly respectable and on the "up-and-up. We did it for the same reason we make any trade--to strengthen our ballclub."

Thompson came up through the Detroit Tigers' system but was dealt to the Angels last summer in exchange for Al Cowens, Ott, the Pirates' starting catcher until losing his job to rookie Tony Pena this spring, hit .260 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs last year.