Transactions BASEBALL American League KANSAS CITY ROYALS—Sig

American League
KANSAS CITY ROYALS—Signed a two-year player development contract with Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League.
TEXAS RANGERS—Fired Buck Showalter, manager.
National League
HOUSTON ASTROS—Extended the contract of Phil Garner, manager, by one year, through 2008. Announced Jim Hickey, pitching coach, will not be retained.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES—Promoted Jim Plake from senior vice president and CFO to executive vice president and CFO; Dennis DaPrahas from vice president of PNC Park operations and facilities management to senior vice president and general manager of PNC Park; and Tim Schuldt from vice president of marketing, sales and broadcasting to vice president and chief marketing and sales officer.

National Basketball Association
WASHINGTON WIZARDS—Signed Ernie Grunfeld, president of basketball operations, to a multiyear contract extension.

National Football League
CAROLINA PANTHERS—Signed CB Christian Morton to the practice squad. Released CB Billy Parker from the practice squad.
CLEVELAND BROWNS—Re-signed NT Babatunde Oshinowo to the practice squad.
DALLAS COWBOYS—Signed TE Andy Thorn to practice squad.
GREEN BAY PACKERS—Signed CB Patrick Dendy from the practice squad. Placed DT Kenderick Allen on injured reserve. Signed LB Spencer Havner to the practice squad.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS—Waived K Martin Gramatica. Signed TE Jerome Collins from the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS—Signed DB Justin Phinisee to the practice squad.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—Signed CB Chidi Iwuoma. Signed OT Sean Bubin to the practice squad.
ST. LOUIS RAMS—Signed LB Isaiah Kacyvenski. Released S Dwaine Carpenter.

National Hockey League
BOSTON BRUINS—Assigned F Petr Kalus to Providence of the AHL.
—Assigned LW Alexandre Picard to Syracuse of the AHL.
LOS ANGELES KINGS—Named Jeff Solomon director of hockey operations and legal affairs.
MONTREAL CANADIENS—Assigned D Patrick Traverse to Hamilton of the AHL.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS—Assigned GK Frank Doyle and D Tomas Harrant to Lowell of the AHL.
NEW YORK RANGERS—Assigned G Stephen Valiquette to Hartford of the AHL.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS—Claimed G Dany Sabourin off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.