Phillies reliever J.C. Romero was suspended for the first 50 games of next season yesterday after testing positive for a banned substance contained in a supplement developed by convicted BALCO chemist Patrick Arnold.

Yankees minor league pitcher Sergio Mitre also was suspended for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a banned substance in an over-the-counter supplement.

The suspensions, upheld by arbitrator Stephen Goldberg, triggered an angry response from the Major League Baseball Players Association.

"We strongly disagree with the commissioner's discipline and with the arbitrator's decision," Michael Weiner, the union's general counsel, said.

"Mitre and Romero both legally purchased nutritional supplements from national chain stores in the United States. Nothing on the labels of those supplements indicated that they contained a trace amount of a substance prohibited under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program."

Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations in the commissioner's office, said the players were at fault.

The Cleveland Indians signed veteran right-hander Carl Pavano to an incentive-laden one-year deal yesterday and are hoping the free-agent pitcher can turn around in one year in low-key Cleveland what he failed to do in four amid the bright lights of New York.

• The Colorado Rockies added depth to their rotation, acquiring durable right-hander Jason Marquis from the Chicago Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino. The 30-year-old Marquis was 11-9 with a 4.53 ERA last season for the NL Central champion Cubs.

• Mark Teixeira officially joined the Yankees, finalizing a $180 million, eight-year deal initially agreed to Dec. 23, pending contract language and a physical.

• Mets executives set up a face-to-face meeting today with agent Scott Boras to talk about two of his free-agent clients: right-hander Derek Lowe and lefty Oliver Perez.

• Chan Ho Park and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized their $2.5 million, one-year contract.

• Relief pitcher Tyler Walker and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a one-year contract, giving the team a potential replacement for former closer J.J. Putz.