BASEBALL ROUNDUP News and notes

White Sox: Magglio Ordonez probably has played his last game for Chicago. The White Sox have until midnight tonight to offer arbitration to their four-time All-Star right fielder but appear resigned to losing him because they still haven't been able to evaluate Ordonez's surgically repaired left knee. The White Sox could offer Ordonez salary arbitration, knowing there are plenty of other teams who will have interest in a 30-year-old who's a career .307 hitter with 187 homers and 703 RBIs. But if Ordonez accepts arbitration, he'd get a salary close to the $14 million he made last year. Ordonez only played 52 games last season because of the knee injury, his fewest appearances since he was a late-season callup in 1997. Ordonez missed 36 games after injuring his left knee in a May 19 collision with second baseman Willie Harris, then went on the disabled list for good July 22 with bone marrow edema. The White Sox thought Ordonez was beginning his rehab in September only to learn that he had a second knee operation. Though Ordonez's new agent, Scott Boras, has said he'll be fully recovered by December, Williams said he was told he wouldn't be able to evaluate Ordonez until he holds a workout at the winter meetings -- several days after the arbitration deadline.
Brewers: Infielder Trent Durrington agreed Monday to a minor league contract and was invited to spring training. Durrington, 29, appeared in 53 games for Milwaukee last season and hit .232 with two home runs and four RBIs. He also played in 51 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he hit .222 with a home run and nine RBIs. Milwaukee also sent outfielder Chris Magruder outright to Triple-A and invited him to major league spring training. Magruder was designated for assignment on Nov. 29 to make room for catcher Damian Miller.
Phillies: Backup catcher Todd Pratt agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract. Pratt hit .258 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 45 games with the Phillies last season and didn't make an error in 267 chances. With Pratt catching, Philadelphia's pitchers had a 3.95 ERA. Pratt, 37, has a .255 average with 38 homers and 182 RBIs in 12 seasons with the Phillies (1992-94, 2001-04), Chicago Cubs (1995) and New York Mets (1997-2001).
Orioles: Carl Pavano was given a tour of Camden Yards on Monday by executive vice president Jim Beattie. It was the fourth site visited this fall by Pavano, who was 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA with the Marlins last season. He has also talked with the Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox. Pavano arrived in Baltimore on Sunday and had dinner with owner Peter Angelos, Beattie, manager Lee Mazzilli and pitching coach Ray Miller.
Cardinals: Former major league manager Hal McRae was hired as hitting coach, joining a high-scoring team that slumped in the World Series. McRae, 59, replaced Mitchell Page, who held the job for 3 1/2 seasons before he was let go in October to seek help at an alcohol-treatment site near his California home. McRae got a two-year contract. The remainder of manager Tony La Russa's coaching staff has agreed to two-year extensions.
Hall of Fame: Gil Hodges, Tony Oliva and Ron Santo headline the 25 candidates on the 2005 ballot for the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee. Sparky Lyle, Jim Kaat, Luis Tiant and Smoky Joe Wood have been added to the ballot this year. Candidates were selected by a committee selected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and second screening committee of six Hall of Fame members. Results of voting will be announced March 2.
Associated Press