Hoyt Returns to White Sox--Won’t Pitch This Season

LaMarr Hoyt, who won the Cy Young award with the Chicago White Sox in 1983 and has since had a series of drug problems, will return to his old club again as a free agent.

Hoyt, 32, agreed to terms of a new contract with the White Sox on Wednesday, General Manager Larry Himes announced.

Terms of the contract will be completed this weekend when Hoyt will meet with White Sox officials.

Himes indicated Hoyt would not pitch for the White Sox during the remainder of the present season.

“Hoyt’s path to regain control of his life and career will not be easy and the end result will be the sole responsibility of LaMarr Hoyt,” Himes said. “He will report to Daytona, and there is no intention of bringing him back this season.”

Hoyt will be assigned to the White Sox’ “A” affiliate at Daytona Beach where he is expected to work his way back through the minor-league system.

Hoyt became a free agent after being released by the San Diego Padres in the wake of a series of drug-related problems. He cleared waivers Friday.

The Padres’ release of Hoyt was in keeping with the team’s no second-chance policy for players with drug problems. Hoyt recently spent 30 days in jail because of a misdemeanor drug conviction.

Originally, the Padres dropped Hoyt last January in an effort to nullify his contract but an arbitrator ordered him restored to the roster and that the Padres were liable for his $2.8 million contract through 1989.

Hoyt was traded by the White Sox to the Padres after the 1984 season with shortstop Ozzie Guillen being the key man in the deal for the White Sox.

Hoyt, who had a 24-10 record when he won the Cy Young in 1983, was 16-8 with the Padres in 1985 and dropped to 8-11 last season.

He was in trouble over drugs three times in 1986. Last October, he pleaded guilty to smuggling about 500 pills of Valium and various painkillers from Mexico into the United States.