Canseco Will Join White Sox

The Chicago White Sox, looking to add punch to their lineup, agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract with veteran Jose Canseco.

Canseco, who will be 37 next month, must pass a physical today and hopes to be in uniform for the White Sox’s game tonight against the Orioles at Baltimore.

“We think a player like Jose adds a presence to our lineup, something we feel we have been missing since losing Frank Thomas for the season,” White Sox General Manager Ken Williams said.

“I spoke with him this morning and he was excited.”

The White Sox have been without Thomas, their primary designated hitter, since May 10 when he suffered a torn triceps muscle.

Canseco was batting .284 with seven homers and 27 runs batted in in 41 games with Newark of the independent Atlantic League. He was released by the Angels in spring training.

Rick Ankiel, the St. Louis pitcher trying to overcome control problems, worked four strong innings for Johnson City in a 2-1 victory over Elizabethton in the Appalachian League. He gave up one hit, one walk and one unearned run, striking out seven. . . . Third J.R. House, expected to be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ catcher as early as next season, said that he will not leave the Pirates’ double-A Altoona farm club to play quarterback at West Virginia.