Acting Commissioner Bud Selig formally called for...

Acting Commissioner Bud Selig formally called for an owners’ meeting Tuesday in Chicago, but said he didn’t know whether they will vote again on the labor deal that was rejected Nov. 6.

“Many clubs are asking me that,” Selig said Thursday. “There’s been no decision at all.”

Selig and union head Donald Fehr talked briefly Wednesday when they were at the same forum in Green Bay, Wis., but Fehr said they didn’t discuss anything of substance.

Selig also said he is nearing the time for a decision on whether to scrap interleague play for next season. He allowed his Nov. 15 deadline to pass, and teams are pressing to issue 1997 schedules and start selling tickets.

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Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher Jose Rijo, still hoping to salvage his baseball career, had his third elbow operation in 15 months.

Rijo, 31, is expected to sit out the 1997 season after surgery to repair a ruptured tendon and remove loose material and scar tissue.

Rijo is entering the final year on his contract. His $5.5-million salary for 1996 was covered by insurance, softening the impact on the team payroll. He will get $5.75 million next year.

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Former Baltimore manager Phil Regan was hired by the Chicago Cubs as their pitching coach, replacing Ferguson Jenkins.

Regan managed the Orioles to a 71-73 record in 1995 and managed the Dodgers’ triple-A team at Albuquerque last season.

Relief pitcher Bob Patterson agreed to a $1.1-million, one-year deal with the Cubs. He was 3-3 with a 3.13 earned run average and eight saves with the Cubs last season.

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Looking to add speed and eventually replace Rickey Henderson in the leadoff spot, the San Diego Padres acquired Quilvio Veras from the Florida Marlins for reliever Dustin Hermanson.

Veras led the major leagues with 56 stolen bases as a rookie in 1995. A hamstring injury cost him nearly 1 1/2 months on the disabled list last year, and he eventually was demoted to triple-A.

Veras, 25, is expected to battle Jody Reed, 34, for the starting job at second base.

Henderson is signed for 1997, and Veras likely will succeed him as leadoff hitter in 1998.

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Following the Rangers’ first division title, Texas General Manager Doug Melvin and Manager Johnny Oates got one-year contract extensions through 1998.

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Former Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola will retire today after an unsuccessful comeback attempt last season.

Viola was released by the Toronto Blue Jays on June 5 after struggling in his six starts, going 1-3 with a 7.77 earned-run average and giving up 43 hits in 30 1/3 innings. He spent the remainder of the season out of baseball.

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Right-hander Matt Whiteside and the Texas Rangers agreed to a $300,000, one-year contract.

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Pittsburgh Pirate left-hander Steve Cooke, limited by shoulder injuries to three appearances since 1994, agreed to a $175,000, one-year contract.