Former 51s manager tabbed to lead Houston

Brad Mills is finally getting his chance to run a major league team.

The 52-year-old Mills was hired by Houston on Tuesday after six seasons as Terry Francona's bench coach in Boston. He'll manage in the majors for the first time, though he's managed a total of 11 seasons in the minors, with affiliates for the Chicago Cubs (1987-92), Colorado Rockies (1993-96) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002).

Mills was the last manager to lead the 51s to the playoffs, doing so in 2002, his only season in Las Vegas. He guided the 51s to a club-record 85 wins and the Pacific Coast League's Southern Division title.

"One thing that I'm going to bring in is a freshness, being with a champion and bringing that freshness in," Mills said. "It's a fresh voice, it's a new voice."

General manager Ed Wade said Mills agreed to a two-year contract, with a team option for the third. The Astros made an offer to former Nationals manager Manny Acta over the weekend, but Acta took the Cleveland Indians' job instead.

Houston owner Drayton McLane spoke with Francona about Mills by phone on Sunday. Francona said Mills practically ran the Red Sox at times, allaying McLane's concerns about his lack of major league managing experience.

• CUBS -- The $845 million sale of the Chicago franchise, Wrigley Field and other assets from the Tribune Co. to the Ricketts family was completed, more than 21/2 years after the baseball franchise was put on the market.

The family of billionaire Joe Ricketts, the founder of Omaha, Neb.-based TD Ameritrade, takes a 95 percent controlling interest in the baseball franchise, its storied ballpark and 25 percent of Comcast Sportsnet, which broadcasts many Cubs games.

After taxes and fees, Chicago-based Tribune, which owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angles Times, other newspapers and TV stations, expects to reap about $740 million from the deal.

• DODGERS -- Jamie McCourt filed for divorce from Los Angeles owner Frank McCourt and asked a judge to reinstate her as the team's chief executive.

Court documents obtained by The Associated Press cite irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. The McCourts have been married since 1979 and have four grown sons.

Frank McCourt fired his wife as the team's chief executive last week when the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Phillies.

Jamie McCourt's filing states she is seeking reinstatement as the team's CEO as well as access to perks including travel by private jet, stays at five-star resorts and use of the Dodgers owners' suite. She wants $321,000 a month in spousal support if reinstated to her former position. If not, she believes she should be paid nearly $488,000 per month.

• RAYS -- Outfielder Gabe Kapler re-signed with Tampa Bay. The 34-year-old Kapler played in 99 games this season, batting .239 with eight homers and 32 RBIs.

• BLUE JAYS -- Toronto took the interim tag off Paul Beeston's title, appointing him president and CEO of the club and Rogers Centre for a three-year term. Beeston took over from Paul Godfrey on an interim basis in October 2008.

• MARINERS -- Former Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima agreed to join the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League.

Johjima signed a four-year deal worth $21 million. He opted out of the final two seasons and $15.8 million of his contract with the Mariners last week.