White Sox Give Lee a $15-Million Deal

Outfielder Carlos Lee agreed Friday to a two-year, $15-million contract with the Chicago White Sox, who also agreed to a one-year, $800,000 deal with pitcher Kelly Wunsch.

Lee gets $6.5 million next season and $8 million in 2005. Chicago has an $8.5-million option for 2006 with a $500,000 buyout.

Lee, 27, hit .291 last season with 31 homers, 113 runs batted in and 18 steals, all career highs. He led the team in RBIs and steals.

Wunsch, 31, was 0-0 with a 2.75 earned-run average in 43 relief appearances.

*

Karim Garcia was cut loose by the New York Yankees, a day after he was charged with assault and battery for brawling in the bullpen during a playoff game in Boston. New York also cut David Dellucci and agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract with infielder Miguel Cairo.... Kevin Millwood is back with the Philadelphia Phillies for at least one more season -- and possibly more. Millwood accepted the Phillies’ offer of salary arbitration, assuring he’ll be in Philadelphia’s rotation in 2004.

*

Dodger second baseman Alex Cora, who hit .249 while playing in a career-high 148 games, agreed to a one-year, $1.3-million contract.... Free-agent reliever Antonio Alfonseca agreed to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves.... Left-hander Scott Eyre agreed to a two-year, $2.45-million contract with the San Francisco Giants to avoid salary arbitration. The Giants also agreed to a one-year contract with left-handed reliever Chad Zerbe.

*

Here’s one way to try to end the Cubs’ curse: Destroy the ball that was in the middle of one of the team’s most heartbreaking defeats. That’s exactly what Grant DePorter wants to do.

DePorter, a friend of Harry Caray and managing partner of the late broadcaster’s area restaurants, paid $106,600 at auction for the foul ball that disrupted the Cubs’ possible run to the World Series.

The ball is to be destroyed on Feb. 26, when the restaurant organizes a worldwide toast to Caray. DePorter plans to ask fans for ideas on how best to banish the ball.

Cub fan Steve Bartman deflected the ball in Game 6 of the National League championship series on Oct. 14. The ball appeared headed for the glove of Cub outfielder Moises Alou, but he was unable to catch it after it ricocheted off Bartman’s hand. The Florida Marlins rallied to win the game and the series.