Mariners Make Hill Fall Guy Because of Poor Glove Work

Glenallen Hill’s glove wore out its welcome in left field for the Seattle Mariners in only half a season.

Despite batting .290 with 12 home runs and 33 runs batted in, Hill was placed on waivers by the Mariners on Monday and claimed by the Chicago Cubs.

Hill, 33, returns to the Cubs, a team he played with in 1993 and ’94 before spending three seasons with San Francisco.

After being signed to a $300,000 contract as a minor-league free agent in January, Hill came out of spring training as Manager Lou Piniella’s starting left fielder. In 74 games, he committed four errors and also led the team by grounding into 13 double plays.

Seattle is in last place in the AL West with a 33-51 record, 13 games behind the first-place Angels.

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Bernie Williams re-injured his right knee during a minor league game at Clearwater, Fla., a setback that could delay his return to the New York Yankees.

Williams left in the fifth inning of a Florida State League game between the Tampa Yankees and Clearwater Phillies after fielding a ball in center field and making a throw to third.

Williams was taken out for precautionary reasons and will be re-evaluated today in Tampa.

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Wilson Alvarez, sidelined since May 20 with a sore pitching shoulder, was activated from the disabled list and is set to return to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ starting rotation after the All-Star break.

Right-hander Bryan Rekar, on the 60-day disabled list since the beginning of the season with a back injury, also was activated.

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Todd Hundley is on his way back to the New York Mets, set to report to the team on Saturday.

Hundley, who underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow Sept. 26, returns to the team as an outfielder after New York acquired All-Star catcher Mike Piazza from the Florida Marlins in a May trade.

Hundley said that he has made the adjustment from catcher, playing both left and right field for the Port St. Lucie Mets and that playing the outfield had helped speed his return to the Mets.

The Mets should have no trouble finding a place in the lineup for Hundley. The Mets are 14th in the NL in runs scored.

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Catcher Ron Karkovice, who didn’t play a game with the Cleveland Indians after signing a minor-league contract with them in January, was unconditionally released by mutual agreement.

Karkovice, 34, who played his entire 12-year major league career with the Chicago White Sox, signed with the Indians on Jan. 13. He was put on the disabled list at double-A Akron on March 29 because of a strained right elbow.