Belle’s Ailing Hip Leaves Future in Doubt

Albert Belle’s arthritic hip has deteriorated, leaving his future in baseball very much in doubt.

Belle was scratched from his first scheduled spring training start Saturday because of a degenerative hip that has left him with limping.

“I’m kind of disappointed with where I am,” Belle said. “I thought maybe after the first week, there would be some normal soreness. Then, maybe after the second week, there’d be some improvement. But it’s been going the other way, so I’m not happy with that.”

*

Texas outfielder Rusty Greer, a .307 career hitter and the Rangers’ new leadoff batter, agreed to a $21.8-million, three-year contract extension.

With performance-based incentives, Greer could earn as much as $29 million from 2002-04. There is a mutual option for 2005, which if exercised would raise the total to as much as $36 million.

“It feels good. It puts a lot of things to rest,” Greer said.

*

New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter will have his ailing right shoulder examined by team doctors today.

Although Manager Joe Torre said Jeter would be playing if it was the regular season, he did not rule out the shortstop getting a cortisone shot.

“The good news is he is feeling better,” Torre said. “What he’s taking now seems to agree with him and making him feel better.”

*

In his spring training debut with the Boston Red Sox, David Cone gave up two homers and five runs in the first inning of a 7-1 loss to Texas.

“As hard as I’ve worked this winter, today was a disappointment,” said Cone, who was 4-14 with a career-high 6.91 ERA last year with the Yankees.

*

Sammy Sosa, who hadn’t even taken live batting practice this spring, homered on the first pitch he saw in the Chicago Cubs’ 9-3 win over Seattle.

“Not bad,” Sosa said. “It felt great. First at-bat, first pitch. Wow!”