Ventura Turns Down ChiSox's Offer

On the same day Albert Belle left for the Baltimore Orioles, the Chicago White Sox appeared to have lost third baseman Robin Ventura.

The White Sox announced Tuesday that Ventura has turned down the club's latest offer, setting the stage for the free agent to sign elsewhere. The White Sox did not disclose terms, but according to a broadcast report, the offer was for three years guaranteed with a fourth-year option worth a total of $25 million.

Ventura is seeking a four-year guaranteed offer and said he did not plan to return to the White Sox, the only professional organization he has known. The five-time Gold Glove winner was a first-round draft choice in 1988 and has played 10 seasons in Chicago.

"I told (general manager) Ron (Schueler) thanks for all the years and that I'm going to miss Chicago," Ventura said during a radio broadcast. "The fans were good to me, but we already have four-year guaranteed deals with a few other teams and we have to move on."

The Washington Post reported Tuesday the Orioles have offered Ventura a four-year, $30 million deal and the New York Mets have increased their offer to $32 million over four years.

"My offer to Robin reflected what I felt was in the club's long-term interests," said Schueler. "Dollars aside, we cannot overestimate what Robin meant to this organization and its fans over the past 10 seasons, and we are disappointed he won't be back in a White Sox uniform."

An All-Star in 1992, Ventura is a career .271 hitter with 171 home runs and 741 RBI in 1,254 games. He hit .263 this season with 21 homers and 91 RBI.

Ventura overcame a serious leg injury during spring training in 1997 to hit .262 in 54 games.

On Tuesday, Belle signed a five-year deal with the Orioles worth $65 million, exrcising an option in his contract with the White Sox that allowed him to be a free agent for 30 days.

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