White Sox Give Cordero Fresh Start

Talented but troubled outfielder Wil Cordero will get a fresh start with a new team this season after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox on Monday, reportedly for $1 million.

Cordero, 26, was released by the Boston Red Sox after the 1997 season and later pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting his wife to avoid jail time.

Cordero was arrested last June 11 and initially pleaded innocent to battering his second wife, Ana Echevarria, who refused to testify against her husband. Cordero later changed his plea.

“We are convinced Wil is sincere in the remorse he has expressed over his past history and believe the White Sox organization can play a supportive role in continuing to assist him on a daily basis,” White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler said.

The deal contains a $2 million club option for 1999.

Cordero hit .281 with 18 homers and 72 RBIs last season.

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Even without Harry Caray, the legendary broadcast who died last month, the Chicago Cubs plan to continue his tradition of singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” this season. Caray’s widow, Dutchie, will lead spectators in singing the song at the Cubs’ home opener on April 3 against Montreal, and others will have the honor at other games.

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Pete Rose’s little talk to Cincinnati Reds minor leaguers in the team’s training camp in Sarasota, Fla., on March 11 resulted in a reprimand but not a fine. Under the lifetime ban Rose agreed to in 1989 for gambling, baseball’s career hits leader is not permitted to do anything affiliated with any professional team. The club called it an honest mistake.

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Kansas City right-hander Kevin Appier, scratched last week as the team’s opening day starter, will undergo arthroscopic surgery for a torn muscle in his pitching shoulder today. Appier has been experiencing discomfort all spring. A team spokesman said the injury is not related to the broken right collarbone he suffered in a freak accident during the off-season. . . . Oakland catcher George Williams and right-handed pitcher Willie Adams both will have arthroscopic shoulder surgery this week and are expected to miss at least half the season. . . . New York Yankee pitcher Hideki Irabu reported improvement in his injured right elbow and will throw off a mound later this week. It’s not known if he’ll be with the team when the season opens. . . . Sidelined nearly two weeks with a sore elbow, Philadelphia catcher Mike Lieberthal went one for four as the designated hitter in a 7-4 victory over Texas at Port Charlotte, Fla.