BASEBALL NOTES: LEYLAND TO STAY A MARLIN; ROTHSCHILD TO TAMPA.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Jim Leyland will be back next year as manager of the Florida Marlins when they defend their World Series title.

``I will stay in Florida . . . in 1998,'' Leyland said Friday night at a Marlins charity fund raiser in Weston, Fla. ``I want to give Don Smiley and his group the benefit of the doubt and make this thing work.''

Speculation had been building about Leyland's future since owner Wayne Huizenga announced Thursday that he had agreed in principle to sell the Marlins to an investment group headed by Smiley, the team president.

Leyland, who won the World Series in his first season with the Marlins, was expected to make an official announcement today.

Rothschild to manage Devil Rays: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays named Marlins pitching coach Larry Rothschild the first manager of the expansion franchise that will begin play next season.

Rothschild, 43, has never managed in the major leagues. He was one of five finalists for the job. The Devil Rays also interviewed Marlins bench coach Jerry Manuel, Cleveland Indians scout Ted Simmons, Baltimore hitting instructor Rick Down and Detroit bench coach Larry Parrish.

Yankees trade Rogers: Kenny Rogers' unhappy stay with the Yankees ended Friday when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics along with $5 million in a deal that eventually will bring third baseman Scott Brosius to New York.

New York, which agreed to pay half of Rogers' $5 million salary in each of the next two seasons, said it will get a player to be named. A baseball executive, asking not be identified, said the player will be Brosius, who hit .203 with 11 homers and 41 RBI in '96.

Johnson to meet with Blue Jays: Former Baltimore Orioles manager Davey Johnson will interview for the Toronto Blue Jays vacant manager's position Wednesday, Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash said.

Although Johnson is baseball's active winningest manager and the 1997 American League Manager of the Year, he's not a lock to be hired, Ash said.

``We're going to meet next Wednesday with Davey, and based on that discussion - if it's something we feel strongly about and need more discussion - then we'll do that,'' Ash said.

Cordova stays with Pirates: Right-hander Francisco Cordova and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed Friday to a $4.1 million, three-year contract with a team option for 2001.