Moves

Baseball

BRAVES -- Designated 1B Julio Franco for assignment. Optioned P Jose Ascanio to Double-A Mississippi.

BREWERS -- Optioned 2B Rickie Weeks to Triple-A Nashville. Placed P Scott Linebrink on bereavement list. Activated P Elmer Dessens from 15-day DL. Purchased contract of IF-OF Joe Dillon from Nashville.

CARDINALS -- Optioned OF Skip Schumaker to Triple-A Memphis.

DODGERS -- Signed P Tim Sexton (Calvert Hall).

INDIANS -- Activated P Aaron Fultz from 15-day DL. Designated P Fernando Cabrera for assignment.

METS -- Sent P Jon Adkins and C Sandy Alomar Jr. outright to Triple-A New Orleans.

PADRES -- Optioned P Tim Stauffer and P Joe Thatcher to Triple-A Portland. Released OF Jose Cruz Jr.

PHILLIES -- Activated OF Jayson Werth from 15-day DL.

PIRATES -- Activated 3B Jose Bautista from 15-day DL.

RANGERS -- Optioned P Scott Feldman, 3B Travis Metcalf and IF Desi Relaford to Triple-A Oklahoma. Purchased contract of OF Jason Botts from Oklahoma. Recalled P Wes Littleton from Oklahoma.

ROYALS -- Announced that Buddy Bell will remain manager for 2007 season and become senior adviser to the general manager in 2008.

YANKEES -- Activated P Jeff Karstens from 60-day DL.

Colleges

BYU -- Extended contract of football coach Bronco Mendenhall through 2011 season.

MASSACHUSETTS -- Agreed with director of athletics John McCutcheon on three-year contract extension through 2012.

UMBC -- Agreed with athletic director Dr. Charles Brown on four-year contract extension through 2011.

Football

FALCONS -- Signed WR Ben Nelson.

PATRIOTS -- Activated S Mel Mitchell from physically-unable-to-perform list. Announced RB Justise Hairston cleared waivers and placed him on reserve-injured list.

RAIDERS -- Signed OL Jesse Boone. Released DL Bill Swancutt and QB Cody Pickett.

SAINTS -- Signed DE Scott Scharff and TE Ronnie Ghent. Waived DE Jon Hamm.