BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Knee Problems Sideline Franco

Defending American League batting champion Julio Franco has bursitis in his right knee and will miss at least two weeks of spring training, the Texas Rangers learned.

Franco was examined by Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., orthopedist Dan Kanell, who diagnosed patella bursitis aggravated by trying to do too much too soon during spring training.

Franco hit .341 last year and has a lifetime .302 average.

Atlanta second baseman Jeff Treadway is expected to undergo surgery on his right hand Friday, Brave General Manager John Schuerholz said. Treadway could be sidelined for three months.

Outfielder David Justice and pitcher Steve Avery were among seven Braves who agreed to one-year contracts. Justice agreed to $550,000 and Avery to $355,000. . . . The Rangers signed four players--outfielders Juan Gonzalez and Jack Daugherty and infielders Jeff Huson and Rob Maurer--to one-year contracts. . . . After the New York Yankees renewed the contract of designated hitter-first baseman Kevin Maas, he questioned the legitimacy of the $5,000 raise that boosted his salary to $255,000. “Is that fair?” asked Maas, who batted .220 with 23 homers and 64 runs batted in last season. “Apparently, they’re trying to save money by pinching the young players, pinching hard and not giving at all.”