Reinsdorf: A-Rod price is too high

Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox, might have taken his team out of the Alex Rodriguez market. But General Manager Ken Williams suggested Reinsdorf's comments were misunderstood.

"I read with amusement that Scott Boras said he's only going to talk to teams that are willing to pay at least $200 million," Reinsdorf said in an interview with Baseball Weekly. "If those are the conditions, we are not a player. We are not going to be used."

Williams said he doesn't expect the numbers being mentioned to reflect the real offers teams will make to Rodriguez, though he acknowledged the reported demand of $200 million over 10 years is more than the Sox are willing to pay.

Elia rejoining M's

After weeks of talking about roles and duties, the Mariners announced yesterday that Lee Elia will be back with the organization.

Elia was Manager Lou Piniella's bench and hitting coach from 1993 until 1997. He will be in a part-time role, formally as field consultant to the major-league staff.

"That means I'll be working with all the coaches," Elia said from his home in Odessa, Fla. "I'm really happy to be back."

Elia was an effective hitting instructor and added a measure of old-line baseball the Mariners have rarely had.

Elia chose the Mariner position over an offer from the Philadelphia Phillies, his original organization for whom he played and coached in his 42 years in the game. He was Philadelphia's minor-league coordinator in 1998-99. Elia also refused an invitation to return to Toronto.

"I'm too old to change now," said the 63-year old Elia, who is expected to work mostly with Piniella and hitting coach Gerald Perry. "In my heart I never really left the Mariners. Now, I'm back. And it feels great."

Note

The Mariners released relief pitcher Todd Williams and first baseman/outfielder Brian Lesher yesterday.

Williams set a Pacific Coast League record with 32 saves for the Tacoma Rainiers and pitched for the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Olympics. Lesher hit .288 with 25 home runs and 92 runs batted in for the Rainiers.

The Mariners added pitchers Brian Fuentes, Greg Wooten, Jake Meyer and Justin Kaye and outfielder Rafael Soriano to their 40-man roster.

Compiled from The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and Times staff reporter Bob Finnigan.