Canseco Released by Expos

Jose Canseco was given his release by the Montreal Expos on Wednesday after being told he would not be an everyday player.

Canseco, 37, hit .200 with three home runs and five runs batted in in 14 spring training games.

The former American League MVP has 462 home runs, putting him 22nd on the career list. But Manager Frank Robinson plans to use other young players in the outfield.

“We had sat down together last week--Jose and I--and he had shared with me his feelings about what he felt like he could do for this ballclub, and under what conditions he could do that,” Robinson said.

“I told Jose today that he would not be an everyday player here. And he had indicated that he didn’t think he could be as productive for us,” he said.

Robinson said the Expos offered to let him play as a regular at Triple-A, but Canseco declined.

“He took it very well, and he took it like a real pro. He understood and certainly made it a little easier for me,” Robinson said.

“When you’re dealing with the veteran players, it may be the end of their careers, you never know, when they don’t make it,” he said.

Canseco signed a minor league contract with Montreal last month, and new Expo General Manager Omar Minaya hoped he had found a power hitter for the middle of the lineup.

At the time, Canseco said he felt healthy enough to play a full season in the outfield. An AL player his entire career, he has been in the field only 13 times in the last three years.

As a designated hitter last year, he hit .258 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 256 at-bats for the Chicago White Sox.

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The Chicago Cubs, desperate for a closer after Tom Gordon was injured, acquired Antonio Alfonseca and pitcher Matt Clement from the Florida Marlins.

Florida got pitcher Julian Tavarez and three minor leaguers--pitchers Jose Cueto and Dontrelle Willis and catcher Ryan Jorgensen.

Alfonseca, who will make $3.55 million this season, led the majors with 45 saves in 2000. He had 28 saves and a career-best 3.06 earned-run average last season despite pitching with back pain much of the season.

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Randy Wolf, who was to be the Philadelphia Phillies’ No. 2 starter, will open the season on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his elbow. The Phillies put reliever Turk Wendell on the 60-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his right elbow, and released pitcher Pete Schourek.

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Roger Clemens will pitch the New York Yankees’ regular-season opener in Baltimore on Monday.

The six-time AL Cy Young Award winner will be making his 12th opening-day start, the most since Jack Morris made the last of his 14 season-opening appearances in 1993.

David Wells and Mike Mussina also are scheduled to start in the three-game series against the Orioles. Andy Pettitte will start the Yankees’ home opener April 5 against Tampa Bay.

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Left-hander Jose Rosado returned to the Kansas City Royals, agreeing to a minor league contract.

Rosado, a two-time AL All-Star selection, was put on waivers March 10 by the Royals.

Rosado has not pitched in the majors since April 30, 2000, and has had two shoulder surgeries since then.

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Outfielder Karim Garcia, who batted over .300 in five weeks with Cleveland last season but couldn’t win a job during training camp, was waived by the Indians.

Garcia, 26, was hitting .323 with two homers and 10 RBIs this spring with the Indians. He no longer has any minor league options and will become a free agent once he clears waivers.

“I came here trying to win a job, but I understand there’s not much room for me,” said Garcia.

The New York Mets claimed two players off waivers, getting outfielder Chris Latham from the Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Andy Tracy from the Montreal Expos.