ChiSox Sign Cangelosi, Jackson

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 26, 1999 / 7:46 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms Tuesday with 35-year-old outfielders John Cangelosi and Darrin Jackson on minor-league contracts and invited them to spring training as non-roster players.

Cangelosi batted .251 with a home run and 10 RBI in 104 games for the Florida Marlins in 1998. Jackson hit .240 with four homers and 20 RBI in 144 games with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Both Cangelosi (1985-86) and Jackson (1994) played with the White Sox earlier in their careers.

"John and Darrin are veteran outfielders who know and understand their roles on a roster," White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said. "They will do a great job backing up and working with our young outfielders. Both know how to win and play the game aggressively."

With the departure of Albert Belle to the Baltimore Orioles and the trade of Mike Cameron to the Cincinnati Reds, Cangelosi and Jackson will compete for open spots in the outfielder. Incumbents Jeff Abbott, Brian Simmons and Magglio Ordonez all are 26 or younger.

The switch-hitting Cangelosi has a career average of .250 with 12 homers and 134 RBI over a 12-year career with the White Sox, Pittsburgh, Texas, the New York Mets, Houston and the Marlins.

Jackson has a lifetime mark of .256 with 76 homers and 301 RBI in an 11-year career with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego, Toronto, the Mets, White Sox, Minnesota and the Brewers.

He had a productive season as a backup for the White Sox in 1994, batting .312 with 10 homers and 51 RBI in 104 games.

The White Sox also invited right-hander Kip Wells, their first-round pick in the 1998 draft, to spring training as a non-roster invitee and sent right-hander John Ambrose to double-A Birmingham of the Southern League.