Vincent Spells Out Yankee Restrictions : Baseball: The team must seek American League approval for its major front-office moves.

NEW YORK —  The New York Yankees must seek American League approval for all major front-office moves during the next five years and must certify every six months that George Steinbrenner has not participated in team decisions.

On Monday, Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent forced Steinbrenner to give up control of the team for paying a known gambler to get damaging information on former Yankee Dave Winfield. (Story, C1.) In today’s order, Vincent spelled out his restrictions on the team and its dealings with Steinbrenner.

According to the four-page order, the Yankees must seek approval of “the hiring, firing, promotion, demotion or reassignment of any officer of the club.” The order doesn’t apply to the hiring and firing of managers.

In addition, the Yankees must get league approval to sue or file a grievance against a player and to hire lawyers and investigators involved with player dealings.

“Except as otherwise provided . . . no Yankees officials or employees shall confer, consult, advise or otherwise communicate, either directly or indirectly, with George M. Steinbrenner III on any matter involving the New York Yankees or baseball until further order of the commissioner,” Vincent ordered. “If such communication, either direct or indirect, occurs, a responsible club official shall immediately notify the American League president.”

Vincent said any violation of his order “shall be deemed conduct not in the best interests of baseball” and will subject Yankee officials “to the discipline of this office.”

Steinbrenner co-signed the order and in a separate seven-page agreement accepted that his conduct was not in the best interests of baseball.

Also, the Yankees must certify in writing to the AL president every six months that Steinbrenner has had no involvement with the team.

In a scathing 11-page decision, Vincent chastised Steinbrenner for starting a relationship with Howard Spira, a 31-year-old gambler from the Bronx, N.Y., and then for giving Spira $40,000 in January.