Canseco Joins Independent Team

Jose Canseco, baseball’s highest-paid player at $4.7 million a year in 1990, will make $3,000 a month as the newest member of the Newark Bears, an independent team that plays in the eight-team Atlantic League.

Canseco, who struggled to find a job after his controversial March 28 release from the Angels following back and hamstring problems, agreed to terms with the Bears on Wednesday and will join his brother, Ozzie Canseco, on the team, which begins a 130-game season on May 1’.

The slugger, who has 446 career home runs but has been on the disabled list seven times in the last six years, had an offer from Toronto to play at triple-A Syracuse but spurned it to be Newark’s starting center fielder. An out clause in his contract will allow Canseco to leave the Bears if he receives an offer from a major league team.

“Triple-A is a higher level of competition, but I don’t think Jose needs to prove he can hit,” said Jeff Borris, Canseco’s agent. “He has to prove he can play every day and that he doesn’t have back problems. He wants to play center field because that’s the most demanding outfield position.”

Canseco criticized the Angels after his release, saying they contributed to a perception that he is “damaged goods” and that their statements would hinder his chances of finding a job.

*

In his first start since leaving last Thursday’s game against Texas in the second inning because of dizziness and blurred vision, Matt Wise gave up five runs and seven hits, struck out six and walked one in 5 2/3 innings for triple-A Salt Lake against New Orleans on Tuesday night.

Wise cruised through five innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out five, before tiring in the sixth, when he was tagged for four runs. The right-hander said doctors still don’t know what caused his strange episode last week.

“It could have been something vascular, something that cut off a little blood to my brain, sort of a freak thing that only lasted a little while,” Wise told the Salt Lake Tribune. “It was scary. It affected every sense of my body. My heart was racing. . . . But I’m approaching this as if it’s over.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Seattle Mariners, four games.

* Site--Safeco Field, Seattle.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 9 all four games.

* Radio--KLAC (570), KMXN-FM (94.3), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 7-8, Mariners 11-4.

* Record vs. Mariners--1-2.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(0-1, 3.00 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

FREDDY GARCIA

(1-0, 4.24 ERA)

* Update--Despite the loss of all-star shortstop Alex Rodriguez, the Mariners entered Wednesday night’s game with the best record in baseball, a fact that doesn’t surprise Angel center fielder Darin Erstad. “They’re a veteran-loaded team with great pitching and defense,” Erstad said. “I’ll take that combination any time.” As always, Seattle is led by machine-like designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who was batting .362 with three homers and 11 RBIs through Tuesday. “If I was manager,” Erstad said, “I’d walk him every time.” Said Scioscia: “That’s not a bad idea.”

* Friday, 7 p.m.--Pat Rapp (0-2, 7.88) vs. John Halama (1-1, 4.50).

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (0-1, 5.40) vs. Aaron Sele (2-0, 3.38).

* Sunday, 1:30 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (2-1, 3.54) vs. Jamie Moyer (2-0, 4.76).