Thomas out; Ordonez may follow

CHICAGO (AP) -- Frank Thomas is out for the rest of the season and Magglio Ordonez might be, too.
After the Chicago White Sox announced Friday that Thomas will miss the rest of the season as he recovers from a stress fracture in his left foot, manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn't expect Ordonez to return.
"I think Magglio has to be ready for next season. I don't think Magglio is going to be back. That's my opinion. Hopefully we get him before, but I doubt it," Guillen said before the White Sox hosted the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
That would mean the White Sox would have to try and make up ground in the AL Central without their Nos. 3 and 4 hitters. Chicago had dropped nine of its last 11 before playing Cleveland, and was six games behind first-place Minnesota.
"It's something we have to deal with and move on. We knew this was a possibility," general manager Kenny Williams said of losing Thomas for the rest of the year. "All we can do is hope he gets better and comes back next year."
Injury
Thomas has been on the disabled list since July 10, and the White Sox hoped to have him back for the last few weeks of the season.
But after examining the slugger Friday, White Sox podiatrist Dr. Lowell Weil recommended he spend another six to eight weeks in a cast.
Thomas will be re-evaluated after six weeks.
"Frank's foot is healing on schedule, but these things just take time," Weil said. "We will take another look at his foot in about six weeks, and then decide on the next steps of his rehabilitation."
Thomas was hitting .271 with 18 homers and 49 RBIs when he got hurt, and the two-time AL MVP was leading the league with 64 walks and a .434 on-base percentage.
Guillen said he wasn't surprised by the news.
"Even if he is ready to play he's not going to play because he's going to be ready by what, September?" Guillen said. "It takes him 15 days to get ready. How many at-bats is he going to get, 20 bat-bats? I said before I didn't expect him to come back for the season."
Williams said he wasn't sure how the injury could affect the 36-year-old Thomas in the future.
"Frank has had issues with his feet for quite sometime," Williams said. "When I hear -- and this is just my feeling not having talked to the doctor -- that there is a screw that potentially could be put in if surgery is required, yeah, a man of his size, stature and weight, there are concerns."
Money matters
Thomas has options for $8 million in 2005 and $10 million in 2006, a year that has a $3.5 million club buyout attached to it.
If he declines his future options, the White Sox could hold onto him for $11 million in 2005 and $12 million in 2006.
Ordonez had surgery to repair torn cartilage June 5 because of a May 19 collision with second baseman Willie Harris, and missed 36 games. He returned July 8, but played in only 10 games before a fluid problem in the knee forced him back onto the disabled list July 23.
Ordonez will spend up to eight weeks on crutches.
Also Friday, the White Sox put left-hander Scott Schoeneweis on the 15-day disabled for the second time this season with a sore left elbow. The move, retroactive to Thursday, clears a roster spot for veteran infielder Roberto Alomar, acquired from Arizona in a trade on Thursday.
Schoeneweis is 6-9 with a 5.56 ERA in 19 starts this season. In Kansas City on Wednesday, he gave up nine runs and nine hits in 1 1/3 innings, the shortest start of his career. He was also on the disabled list June 25-July 7.