Knoblauch Will Try Left-Field Experiment

Chuck Knoblauch, still unable to solve his throwing problems, will be moved from second base to left field by the New York Yankees as a late spring training experiment.

The former Gold Glove infielder talked the matter over Monday with New York Manager Joe Torre, who said he didn’t want Knoblauch to think left field was “the penalty box.”

“I would say, and he will agree, I’ve done every possible thing I can do,” Knoblauch said. “The word ‘quit’ is not in my vocabulary.

“It’s just not happening now. I’ve done every possible thing. My teammates know that. Joe Torre knows that. The coaches know that. And more important, I know that.”

Knoblauch developed throwing problems in 1999, making 26 errors during the regular season. By June 28 last year, he had made 15 more, primarily on throws. He played second base just 30 times after that. Sidelined by arm pain, he became a designated hitter much of the time when he returned.

“He needs to be comfortable for me to be comfortable, and we’re not there yet,” Torre said. “Nobody has worked harder than he has. There is nothing more he can do at second base that is going to make him a better second baseman.”

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Rickey Henderson and the San Diego Padres agreed on a one-year deal that will pay him $250,000 if he makes the club.

Henderson, the career steals leader who is closing in on other marks, was at the Padre complex in Peoria, Ariz., General Manager Kevin Towers said. The rest of the team had the day off.

Henderson is closing in on two major records. He is three walks short of breaking Babe Ruth’s career record of 2,062 and needs 68 runs to top Ty Cobb’s record of 2,245. He also is 86 hits shy of 3,000.

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New York Met left-hander Bobby Jones has tendinitis in his throwing shoulder and won’t be able to throw the ball for two weeks. Jones underwent an MRI that showed he had no structural damage in the shoulder. . . . The earthquake that rocked the Puget Sound region last month caused about $400,000 damage to Safeco Field. Seattle Mariner Chairman and CEO Howard Lincoln said that Safeco’s anti-earthquake devices worked as the engineers designed them and the stadium did not sustain any structural damage.