Bo Jackson is on waivers again, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Chicago White Sox outfielder is going anywhere.
If Jackson clears waivers, the White Sox would be able to re-sign him to a new deal if they don't exercise their option for this season at $910,000, as called for in the contract they signed him to last year.If Chicago had waited until March 15, the deadline for exercising the option, and then tried to get Jackson off the roster by placing him on unconditional release waivers, it would not have been able to re-sign him until May 1.
The danger in the move, made Friday, is that another team could claim Jackson by Wednesday's 2 p.m. EST deadline. However, a claim appears unlikely because of Jackson's hip injury and contract status.
Any team claiming the outfielder would have only until March 15 to decide whether to exercise the option.
Chicago general manager Ron Schueler would not confirm the move, but executives on other teams said Jackson had gone on waivers.
"The White Sox want to preserve all options as we continue to talk aimed at arriving at what's best for Bo and the club," said Jackson's new agent, Arn Tellem.
Jackson did not accompany the team to Saturday's exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and instead took batting practice at Chicago's training camp in Sarasota, Fla. Jackson, used as a designated hitter, had difficulty running this week in his first two exhibition appearances and probably will not be ready to play on opening day.
"I'm really anxious to see how he's going to do after a couple of days off, whether he responds," Schueler said.
Meanwhile Roger Clemens, whose absence from camp caused a loud commotion last week, created an even bigger noise Saturday. In his first start of the exhibition season, he managed to hit Rob Deer's bat with a fastball, and the result was a grand slam in the first inning of a game at Winter Haven, Fla.
After that, Clemens was his old self. With a fastball that reached the low 90s and made popping noises rarely heard so soon in March, he set down his final eight Detroit batters. He left after the third inning with the score tied at 4 in a game Boston won 9-7.
"All in all, I was pretty happy. It was just about as I expected," Clemens said. "I can't remember the last time I gave up a grand slam, but it's no big deal, not down here."
Clemens gave up four runs on three hits and a walk, along with four strikeouts, against a lineup missing Cecil Fielder, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker.
"My breaking stuff was right there. My velocity was good. I threw two split-fingered fastballs, and they felt good, too," Clemens said.
Dave Stewart of Oakland, hoping to rebound from a poor 1991, was happy with his progress despite being hit hard in his spring training debut at Tempe, Ariz.
The Oakland Athletics' right-hander gave up four runs and five hits against the Seattle Mariners. Three of the hits were doubles as the Mariners scored once in the first inning and three more times in the third.
"Any way you look at it, it's not pleasant giving up four runs," Stewart said. "It's spring training I'm not in mid-season form. . . . For the first day it wasn't bad at all. Two good innings and one bad inning. Good velocity, location was good for the better part until that last inning."
Stewart, who underwent arthroscopic surgery Dec. 16 to correct a left knee injury that became very bothersome last year, was happy with the way the knee held up.
"It's firm. When you land it's firm," Stewart said. "Steiny (catcher Terry Steinbach) said the umpire said my ball was how it normally is. . . . When I went for the outside corner, it was there. When I went for the inside corner it was there. You can drop that foot and plant it firmly, and that evens up your direction."
In one of the first injuries of the spring, Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers scratched from Saturday's lineup because of a stiff back.
"Right now, I can't do anything," he said. "Needless to say, I'm not happy about it, but I guess if it had to happen, it's better that it happens now."